On March 20, 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice announced a sweeping federal indictment against Matt Weiss, the former quarterbacks coach and co-offensive coordinator for the University of Michigan football team, accusing him of orchestrating an elaborate, years-long scheme to gain unauthorized access to the private accounts of more than 3,300 student athletes, most of whom were female.
The 24-count indictment alleges that Weiss targeted over 100 universities nationwide between approximately 2015 and 2023, exploiting gaps in digital security systems to collect intimate photographs and videos of young women. Prosecutors say the case is one of the largest of its kind involving digital privacy invasion and voyeuristic abuse of college students.
The Allegations: A Pattern of Digital Exploitation
According to federal prosecutors, Weiss engaged in a methodical and deeply invasive pattern of behavior:
- He allegedly began by hacking into the accounts of individuals with elevated access to university systems, such as trainers and athletic administrators.
- From there, he is accused of downloading medical and personal data for over 150,000 student athletes and gaining access to systems maintained by Keffer Development Services, a third-party vendor used by multiple schools.
- Weiss reportedly cracked encrypted passwords using personal data like pet names, birthplaces, and nicknames, and used that information to infiltrate student athletes’ email, cloud storage, and social media accounts.
- The indictment says Weiss illegally accessed and downloaded private, intimate digital photographs and videos, often returning to accounts months or years later to seek out more.
- Prosecutors also claim Weiss kept detailed notes on individuals he spied on, including comments about their bodies and sexual preferences.
Altogether, Weiss is accused of unlawfully accessing the accounts of over 3,300 students and alumni, part of a scheme that spanned multiple years and institutions. He now faces charges for aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, and computer intrusions, and faces years in federal prison if convicted.
The indictment makes no mention of whether any institutions have been held responsible, but the scope of the breach raises serious questions about data security and institutional accountability. Weiss was placed on leave and later fired by the University of Michigan in early 2023. In a statement made to ESPN, the university said it had “proof sufficient to support termination” before his dismissal.
To date, the university has not issued additional public comment in light of the indictment.
Rights of Victims: Civil Claims and Institutional Liability
While the criminal indictment against Matt Weiss is a critical step toward justice, survivors of digital abuse and privacy violations may also have the right to pursue civil claims.
If you are a current or former student athlete who was:
- Notified that your account was accessed,
- Experienced unauthorized access to your private digital content, or
- Suffered emotional harm as a result of this breach,
You may have the right to seek compensation and accountability through a civil lawsuit. Victims may be entitled to damages for:
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Invasion of privacy
- Medical or counseling expenses
- Punitive damages against individuals and institutions that failed to protect your data
Liable parties may include not only Matt Weiss, but potentially the universities and vendors that allowed these breaches to occur.
Grewal Law PLLC Is Investigating Claims on Behalf of Victims
At Grewal Law PLLC, we have a long track record of representing survivors of sexual abuse and institutional failures — including our work in securing some of the largest university sexual abuse settlements in U.S. history.
Now, our team is leveraging our experience and insight to investigate potential civil claims on behalf of student athletes and other individuals who may have been victimized by Matt Weiss and his unlawful scheme.
We are reviewing potential cases involving:
- Female student athletes whose schools used Keffer Development Services or other compromised platforms
- Individuals notified of unauthorized access to their accounts
- Anyone who believes intimate photos or videos were accessed, saved, or distributed without consent
All consultations are free and confidential, and we only get paid if we win your case.
Call (888) 211-5798 or contact us online to schedule a FREE and private consultation with our compassionate legal team.
