The scandal involving former University of Michigan assistant football coach Matthew Weiss continues to unravel as more victims step forward in a more disturbing case. An ongoing investigation reveals Weiss is accused of hacking into the accounts of numerous female athletes, obtaining their most private information. McKenzie Johnson, a former softball player for Grambling State University, courageously broke her silence during a press conference organized by Marko Law on Monday, as reported by CBS News.
Attorney Jon Marko described the breach as "the tip of the iceberg" in a statement obtained by FOX 2 Detroit. Weiss allegedly hacked into over 3,000 athletes' data starting in 2015. Weiss's employment at the University spanned less than two years, from February 2021 to January 2023, yet the indictment alleges that unauthorized access occurred throughout this duration. Marko criticized the University of Michigan and other affiliated institutions for not notifying the women sooner, saying this lack of communication hindered the victims' chances to protect themselves.
The amended lawsuit, which now represents 42 plaintiffs, puts forth allegations unsettling in their breadth and violation of privacy. The University of Michigan, the Board of Regents, and Pennsylvania-based data system vendor Keffer Development Services, LCC, are all named in the legal action for failing to implement adequate security measures, according to The Detroit News. The complaint details Weiss's unauthorized access to sensitive information and the subsequent downloading of personal and intimate images and videos.
Amidst federal charges and a burgeoning roster of civil complaints, the true extent of this privacy breach is still being determined. Weiss is currently facing 24 federal counts, including unauthorized access to computers and aggravated identity theft, as reported by FOX 2 Detroit. Former students and athletes from at least seven different institutions are among the plaintiffs coming forward to challenge the violations committed by Weiss and the systemic breakdown that allowed them to happen.
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