Twin Brothers Arrested in U.S. for Deleting Government Data Following Job Termination

Authorities in the United States have detained twin brothers accused of erasing extensive databases belonging to various federal agencies after being informed of their dismissal from a technology service provider. The two 34-year-olds allegedly deleted approximately 96 databases in February, including those maintained by the Department of Homeland Security and other federal entities. Among the compromised data were files and documents related to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, as reported by the U.S. Department of Justice.

The incident reportedly occurred during a virtual meeting in which the brothers were notified of their termination from employment with a company that provides data and process management solutions to government clients. According to investigations, the pair initiated their unauthorized actions while still having active access to sensitive systems, highlighting significant lapses in internal security protocols.

Both individuals have previous criminal convictions for cyber-related offenses. One brother had previously infiltrated a cosmetics firm's systems to steal customer credit card information, while the other had manipulated visa application data during his tenure at the U.S. State Department's consular division. Despite their backgrounds and prior incarceration, they were able to secure positions with the same government contractor, raising questions about the adequacy of background screening procedures within federal service providers.

Further scrutiny revealed that the brothers' past offenses were only discovered during a subsequent security clearance process, which was initiated when they were assigned to work with a federal deposit insurance institution. This oversight led to the decision to terminate their employment. During the dismissal meeting, one of the brothers reportedly restricted access to an Internal Revenue Service database and erased 33 additional government databases. After the meeting concluded, he is alleged to have connected a USB device to his laptop and deleted nearly 2,000 files.

The ease with which these actions were carried out prompted a series of internal and external investigations, with cybersecurity firms such as Mandiant becoming involved in the aftermath. The twin brothers have now been formally charged following a federal investigation, and face significant prison sentences if convicted. Authorities have emphasized that their actions posed serious risks to national security and disrupted the ability of federal agencies to serve the public effectively.

The case, which is set to be heard in a Virginia court, has underscored the importance of comprehensive background checks and robust cybersecurity measures when granting access to critical government infrastructure. The incident has also triggered broader discussions within the public and private sectors about insider threats and the ongoing challenge of securing sensitive data against both external and internal risks.