The Department of Justice and FBI announced today results of the personnel surge in support of Operation Not Forgotten 2026. Focuses on unresolved cases in Indian country with a priority on cases involving violence against women and children, including those who are missing or murdered. In its fourth year, Operation Not Forgotten surged personnel and investigative resources across the country from April 1 through September 30, resulting in 118 arrests, 41 individuals charged federally, 25 child victims identified or located.
Key details of the case
72 weapons recovered. FBI agents conducted 990 interviews and 232 search operations. Arrests increased by 123% and subjects charged by 52% over 2025.
Moreover, “The Department of Justice will always work to deliver justice for the victims of violent crime in Indian country,” said Attorney General Todd Blanche. “Thanks to the hard work of the FBI, our U.S. Attorneys.
Meanwhile, other federal and tribal partners, Operation Not Forgotten and Operation Steadfast Promise are helping make communities safer and providing comfort for victims and families.” . “This year’s Operation Not Forgotten continued this FBI’s largest commitment to Indian Country in the history of the Bureau,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “The results were outstanding – from April 1 through September 30, this FBI worked more than 500 cases, a 59% increase from last year’s operation.
Enforcement actions and official statements
In addition, 118 arrests, a 123% increase; and 41 subjects charged federally, a 52% increase. This is in addition to 25 child victims identified or located and 72 weapons recovered. These involved life-saving operations, with cases including child sexual abuse, physical assault and abuse, domestic violence, CSAM cases, and more. .
As a result, “Operation Not Forgotten sends a loud and clear message that our long-forgotten partners in Indian Country are forgotten no more,” said Director Patel. “When I assumed the position of FBI Director a year and a half ago, this FBI promised we would be there for our tribal partners. We have and will continue to be – through our 400 agents dedicated to Indian country, 30 Safe Trails Task Forces. For complete details, refer to the official DOJ press release.
Consequently, increased awareness with our Voices Not Forgotten program, where the FBI quadrupled the rewards to at least $25,000 for information associated with homicides, kidnappings and missing persons in Indian country. Thank you to our federal, state. Local partners who continue to work with us to ensure these unsolved crimes and cases receive the surge in resources they deserve.”.
Notably, “Operation Not Forgotten demonstrates the Trump Administration’s commitment to protecting tribal communities, strengthening public safety. Ensuring that victims and their families have access to justice,” said Billy Kirkland, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior. For related coverage, see Department of justice announces phase three of compensation process for western union fraud victims — DOJ.
“Through close collaboration across the federal government and in partnership with tribal, state. Local law enforcement, we are bringing additional resources and investigative support to Indian Country to address violent crime, advance unresolved cases, and help families find answers. The Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, remains committed to working alongside our partners to deliver meaningful results and build safer communities for generations to come." .
Subsequently, examples of cases charged during this period include: . In the District of Wyoming, the surge resulted in the federal indictment of 18 individuals for an array of violent crimes. Child abuse offenses on the Wind River Indian Reservation, including U.S. v. For related coverage, see Florida laboratory vice president and marketer convicted of medicare fraud for COVID-19 testing scheme — DOJ.
Jose Benito Ocon: This prosecution arises from an August 2025 incident near Riverton. The defendant allegedly executed a male passenger with a gunshot to the head inside a moving vehicle before turning the firearm on two female witnesses. Leveraging the surge’s enhanced investigative assets, a grand jury returned an indictment charging the defendant with five felony counts, including first-degree murder, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence.
In particular, two distinct counts of assault with a dangerous weapon. He faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. In U.S. v.
Furthermore, darlynn Sheree Seminole, federal prosecutors filed charges following a June 2026 domestic violence intervention by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Wind River Police Department, involving allegations of severe physical trauma inflicted on a 10-year-old. In the District of Nevada, in July a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Delshay Astor with the alleged murder of Anna Scott, a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in February 2022. Also charged Joel Christy for assisting Astor to avoid apprehension.
Investigation and prosecution details
In the District of Minnesota, Operation Not Forgotten has resulted in four cases charged during the surge period with violent and sexual offenses in Indian Country, including sexual abuse of minors, domestic assault causing substantial bodily injury, assault by strangulation. Assault with intent to commit kidnapping. One recent case includes U.S. v. Courtney John Barrett Sr. indicted on September 22, 2026, on two counts of sexual abuse of a minor. .