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Matt Weiss, previously the quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator at the University of Michigan, is currently facing an array of 24 cybercrime charges, as reported by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
This legal action follows Weiss’s termination in January 2023, which occurred amid ongoing investigations by the university’s police department regarding potential computer-access violations within the football program’s facilities.
Weiss, who is 42 years old, has been charged with 14 counts of unauthorized computer access and 10 counts of aggravated identity theft. Authorities allege that between 2015 and January 2023, he illegally accessed student-athlete databases from over 100 colleges, managed by a third-party vendor. It is claimed that Weiss downloaded sensitive personal and medical information pertaining to more than 150,000 athletes.
Particularly concerning is the allegation that Weiss predominantly targeted female student-athletes. Criminal records suggest that he specifically “researched and targeted these women based on their school affiliation, athletic history, and physical characteristics,” intending to obtain private images and videos that were meant only for intimate sharing.
Utilizing the information gained from these databases and his personal investigations, Weiss allegedly infiltrated the email and social media accounts of over 2,000 student-athletes, as well as illegally acquiring information relating to more than 1,300 additional students and alumni across the United States. Following his unlawful access to these accounts, officials assert he downloaded intimate and personal content that was never intended for public dissemination.
Acting U.S. Attorney Julie Beck remarked, “Our office will move aggressively to prosecute computer hacking to protect the private accounts of our citizens. We stand ready with our law enforcement partners to bring those who illegally invade the privacy of others to justice.”
If found guilty of the charges, Weiss could face a maximum of five years in prison for each count of unauthorized computer access, along with a potential two-year sentence for each count of aggravated identity theft. A mandatory two-year sentence would apply if he is convicted on the aggravated identity theft charges.
Cheyvoryea Gibson, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI in Michigan, noted that “today’s indictment of Matthew Weiss underscores the commitment and meticulous investigative efforts of our law enforcement professionals.” He added that the FBI Detroit Cyber Task Force, working closely with the University of Michigan Police Department, dedicated significant resources to this case to ensure the safety of the community.
Weiss was on staff with the Michigan Wolverines, serving as quarterbacks coach in 2021 before taking on dual responsibilities as co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the 2022 season. Prior to his role at Michigan, he was part of the Baltimore Ravens coaching staff from 2009 to 2020.
CBS News Detroit has reached out to the University of Michigan to obtain a response regarding this developing situation and is awaiting further information.
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