Former University of Michigan Coach Charged with Identity Theft and Computer Hacking

A shocking scandal has unfolded in the sports world as former University of Michigan quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss has been charged with 24 cybercrime charges, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The charges, which were filed earlier this week, come more than two years after Weiss was fired from his position at the university in January 2023 amidst an investigation into possible computer-access crimes.

Weiss, 42, is facing a slew of serious charges, including 14 counts of unauthorized access to computers and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft. The allegations against him are nothing short of disturbing, with officials claiming that between 2015 and January 2023, Weiss hacked into student-athlete databases of more than 100 colleges held by a third-party vendor.

Once he gained access to these databases, Weiss allegedly downloaded sensitive information, including personally identifiable data and medical records, from over 150,000 athletes. However, it's not just the sheer volume of data that's concerning – it's also the fact that Weiss is accused of targeting female student-athletes specifically, researching and targeting them based on their school affiliation, athletic history, and physical characteristics.

According to criminal records, Weiss's goal was to obtain private photographs and videos never intended to be shared beyond intimate partners. And, according to officials, he successfully gained access to email and social media accounts, as well as cloud storage accounts of more than 2,000 student-athletes. He's also accused of illegally obtaining personal information from over 1,300 additional students and alumni from colleges across the U.S.

Once Weiss had obtained access to these accounts, he reportedly downloaded personal and intimate pictures and videos that were not meant to be shared publicly. This brazen invasion of privacy has left many in the sports world reeling.

"Our office will move aggressively to prosecute computer hacking to protect the private accounts of our citizens," said Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck in a news release. "We stand ready with our law enforcement partners to bring those who illegally invade the privacy of others to justice."

If convicted, Weiss faces up to five years in prison on each count of unauthorized access to computers and two years on each count of aggravated identity theft. In addition, if he's found guilty of aggravated identity theft, Weiss will face a mandatory two-year sentence.

"Today's indictment of Matthew Weiss underscores the commitment and meticulous investigative efforts of our law enforcement professionals," said Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan. "The FBI Detroit Cyber Task Force, in close collaboration with the University of Michigan Police Department, worked relentlessly on this case to safeguard and protect our community."

Weiss's downfall is a stark reminder of the importance of online security and the need for vigilance when it comes to protecting personal data. As one of the most respected voices in college football coaching, Weiss's actions are a betrayal of the trust placed in him by his students, colleagues, and fans.

The University of Michigan has been tight-lipped about the incident so far, but CBS News Detroit is working to bring you the latest updates as more information becomes available. In the meantime, we urge everyone to take steps to protect their own online security and to report any suspicious activity to the authorities immediately.