Matthew Weiss, 42, former co-offensive coordinator for the University of Michigan, was charged Thursday with unauthorized access to computers and aggravated identity theft, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan.
The charges stem from Weiss’s actions between 2015 and January 2023, during which he allegedly gained unauthorized access to student-athlete databases maintained by a third-party vendor, affecting more than 100 colleges and universities.
“We will move aggressively to prosecute computer hacking offenses to protect the private accounts of citizens,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck. “Our office stands firm in our commitment to bring those who invade the privacy of others to justice.”
Weiss is accused of downloading personally identifiable information and medical records for more than 150,000 athletes. He then used this stolen data, along with additional online research, to access the social media, email, and cloud storage accounts of more than 2,000 athletes.
Additionally, Weiss is charged with illegally accessing the accounts of more than 1,300 students and alumni from various universities. Once inside, he downloaded intimate photographs and videos, which were not meant to be shared, according to the FBI.
“The indictment of Matthew Weiss highlights the determination and thorough investigative work of law enforcement professionals,” said Cheyvoryea Gibson, special agent in charge of the FBI in Michigan. “The FBI Detroit Cyber Task Force, in partnership with the University of Michigan Police Department, worked relentlessly to safeguard our community.”
