Idaho CEO Arrested for Allegedly Hiding Company's Russian Ties to Win U.S. Gov. Contracts
Prosecutors say the company concealed Russian ownership and software development to win federal contracts, including a five-year deal worth up to $12 million.
- On Wednesday, federal prosecutors charged Oxygen Forensics CEO Lee Reiber and co-founder Oleg Davydov with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Reiber was arrested in Idaho on Sunday; Davydov was apprehended at London Heathrow Airport the same day.
- After the 2022 invasion of Ukraine prompted tighter U.S. regulations, the defendants allegedly conspired to hide that five Russian nationals owned the company and that its forensic software was developed in Russia by MKO Systems LLC.
- To secure federal contracts, Reiber allegedly falsely certified that the company had no foreign ownership, securing a $12 million contract with the National Computer Forensics Institute in September 2024 despite knowing it was foreign-controlled.
- Seizing approximately 57 domains and corporate bank accounts on September 19, federal authorities continued their investigation. Prosecutors stated the forensic software sold to the Secret Service and Pentagon contained no malicious code and did not compromise computer systems.
- Davydov faces extradition from the United Kingdom, while Reiber was released on bond following his initial appearance in Idaho. He is expected to be arraigned in Los Angeles federal court in the coming weeks.
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27 Articles
Russian-linked software sold to US government as CEO allegedly hid Russian control – two now arrested
US prosecutors accuse Oxygen Forensics’ CEO and a Russian national of concealing Russian ownership and software development while selling digital forensics tools to federal agencies.
Idaho CEO arrested for allegedly hiding company's Russian ties to win U.S. Gov. contracts
Oxygen Forensics CEO Lee Reiber, 55, of Boise, Idaho, and a Russian national have been charged in federal court with conspiracy to commit wire fraud after allegedly concealing the Russian ownership and development of the company, the U.S. Attorney's Office of Idaho announced today. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, after the United States imposed expanded sanctions on Russia in early 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Davyd…
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Radio Free Europe/ RadioLiberty
PressNewsAgencyUS Company That Sold Software To Pentagon, Secret Service Lied About Russian Ownership, Officials Say
US authorities say a US company that provided surveillance and data-mining software to the Pentagon and other government agencies was in fact owned by a Russian company that also sold software to Russian spy agencies.
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