The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported 118 arrests and 41 individuals charged federally during Operation Not Forgotten 2026, a nationwide initiative targeting unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country. The operation also resulted in 25 child victims being identified or located and 72 weapons being recovered.
Conducted from April 1 through September 30, 2026, the operation focused on unresolved investigations involving violence against women and children, including missing and murdered people. Now in its fourth year, the initiative supported 548 case investigations, a 59% increase over 2025. Arrests increased by 123%, while the number of individuals charged federally rose by 52%.
Key details of Operation Not Forgotten 2026
| Enforcement measure | Results |
|---|---|
| Case investigations supported | 548 |
| Arrests | 118 |
| Individuals charged federally | 41 |
| Child victims identified or located | 25 |
| Weapons recovered | 72 |
| FBI interviews conducted | 990 |
| Search operations conducted | 232 |
According to the DOJ, the investigations included child sexual abuse, physical assault, domestic violence, and cases involving child sexual abuse material.
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Attorney General Todd Blanche credited FBI personnel, U.S. Attorneys, and federal and tribal partners with helping advance investigations and support victims and their families. FBI Director Kash Patel described the initiative as part of the bureau’s expanded commitment to public safety in tribal communities.
Wyoming indictments include murder and child abuse cases
In the District of Wyoming, the investigative surge supported the federal indictment of 18 individuals in cases involving violent crimes and child abuse on the Wind River Indian Reservation.
Jose Benito Ocon faces murder and firearms charges
Jose Benito Ocon was indicted in connection with an August 2025 incident near Riverton, Wyoming. According to the DOJ, Ocon allegedly shot a male passenger in the head while inside a moving vehicle before turning the firearm toward two female witnesses.
A grand jury returned an indictment charging Ocon with five felony counts, including first-degree murder, discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon.
Ocon faces a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment if convicted. The allegations remain subject to the federal court process.
Darlynn Sheree Seminole charged in child abuse case
Federal prosecutors also filed charges against Darlynn Sheree Seminole following a domestic violence intervention in June 2026 by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Wind River Police Department.
The case involves allegations of severe physical trauma inflicted on a 10-year-old child. The DOJ included the prosecution among the cases charged during the operation.
Nevada case involves the alleged murder of Anna Scott
In the District of Nevada, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment in July 2026 charging Delshay Astor with the alleged murder of Anna Scott, a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.
Prosecutors allege that Scott was killed on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in February 2022. Joel Christy was also charged with assisting Astor in avoiding apprehension.
The case was among the unresolved investigations advanced through federal enforcement efforts during the six-month operation. The charges against Astor and Christy remain allegations unless proven in court.
Minnesota investigations target violent and sexual offenses
In the District of Minnesota, Operation Not Forgotten resulted in four cases being charged during the surge period. The cases involved alleged 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 case involved Courtney John Barrett Sr., who was indicted on September 22, 2026, on two counts of sexual abuse of a minor.
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The DOJ identified these prosecutions as part of the operation’s efforts to advance cases involving violence and abuse in tribal communities.
Montana cases address a death investigation and violent assault
In the District of Montana, Michael Plentybuffalo was charged in connection with the death of Shann Nomee, who went missing during an extreme cold snap in January 2024.
Nomee’s frozen body was later found in a field north of Lodge Grass, Montana, following a community-led search and a tip to the Bureau of Indian Affairs that pointed to Plentybuffalo. According to the DOJ announcement, Plentybuffalo’s case is pending trial.
In a separate case, Lance Crookedarm was charged in connection with an alleged violent assault and non-fatal strangulation of a female victim in May 2026.
These cases demonstrate the range of investigations included in the federal initiative, from death investigations to alleged domestic and interpersonal violence.
FBI expands investigative support across Indian Country
Operation Not Forgotten is supported by a wider FBI initiative called Operation Steadfast Promise, announced in 2026 to address violent criminal threats affecting tribal communities.
Since Operation Steadfast Promise began in April 2026, the FBI reported opening more than 1,200 new investigations in Indian Country, obtaining criminal charges against 678 individuals, making more than 700 arrests, recovering 2,260 weapons, and conducting 140 drug seizures.
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These figures cover the broader Operation Steadfast Promise initiative and are separate from the results reported for Operation Not Forgotten.
The FBI has coordinated with U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, the BIA Missing and Murdered Unit, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, tribal law enforcement, and other federal partners to provide investigative assistance and pursue cases affecting tribal communities.
FBI increases rewards for information on unresolved cases
The FBI has expanded its Voices Not Forgotten webpage, which features an interactive, searchable map highlighting investigations in Indian Country where authorities are seeking public assistance.
In August 2026, the bureau announced a new reward protocol providing rewards of at least $25,000 for publicly advertised cases involving homicides, kidnappings, and missing persons in Indian Country where the FBI has assumed jurisdiction.
The DOJ said more than 4,000 investigations remained open in Indian Country, including death investigations and cases involving child abuse, domestic violence, and adult sexual abuse.
The FBI encourages anyone with information about unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country to contact a local FBI field office or submit information through the FBI tips website.