Oxygen Forensics CEO Reiber Arrested in Idaho

By Anna Florish Austin, TX · ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA —

Published Updated 5 min read

Lee Reiber was arrested September 20, 2026, for conspiring to hide Russian ownership of Oxygen Forensics. He faces up to 20 years in prison after securing a $12 million federal contract.

ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA — Lee Reiber, the chief executive of Oxygen Forensics, was arrested in Boise, Idaho, on September 20, 2026. Federal authorities charged Reiber with conspiring to conceal Russian ownership of the company from U.S. government agencies. Lee Reiber said he could not go there and was one of the persons they would arrest.

Reiber and Davydov are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. Federal prosecutors allege Reiber helped conceal the Russian ownership and development of Oxygen Forensics, a digital forensics software company based in Alexandria, Virginia.

The indictment states that five Russian nationals owned and controlled Oxygen Forensics through a Cyprus-based holding company. Prosecutors allege that Oxygen Forensics software was developed by a team in Russia directed by Davydov. Despite this, federal prosecutors allege Reiber falsely represented to government agencies that the company had no foreign ownership or control.

Oxygen Forensics customers included the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of War. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it previously used Oxygen Forensics software but discontinued use in February after security risks were identified. Investigators seized Oxygen Forensics corporate bank accounts and roughly 57 web domains under a warrant issued September 19.

During a recorded call with undercover agents posing as Homeland Security officials in March, Lee Reiber denied any Russian ownership or involvement in the software's development. Reiber, 55, lives in Boise and worked as a police officer there from 1995 to 2009. He was hired as COO of Oxygen Forensics in 2015 and became CEO, president, and chairman in March 2022.

Reiber was paid $250,000 annually as CEO of Oxygen Forensics. In an email to Davydov and two other Russian owners, Reiber wrote that public reporting on their connection could destroy the entire opportunity. He also wrote that the current existence of the company hangs in the balance. Reiber is expected to be arraigned in federal court in Los Angeles in the coming weeks.

Max Weissberg, a former Oxygen Forensics employee, made public allegations about the company in a YouTube video in February 2026. Weissberg claimed that the Russian government had direct oversight of the company. Weissberg said that in his opinion, there was no way the Russian government would allow an important company like Oxygen Forensics to be controlled by an American without direct oversight.

Weissberg described Reiber's role in the scheme. He said Lee was clearly a figurehead, which he said he witnessed, and that as a handsome, former cop far from the big city, Reiber had the trust factor. Oxygen Forensics sued Weissberg for defamation in August in federal court in Virginia.

Russian owners' names were removed from Oxygen Forensics public corporate filings following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov was removed from these filings in June 2022. Davydov co-founded Oxygen Software LLC, later renamed MKO Systems LLC, in 2000 and served as its chief technology officer. Galina Rabotenko is a Russian national associated with Oxygen Forensics.

The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security is investigating the Oxygen Forensics case. Courtney Reiber, Lee Reiber's daughter, worked at Oxygen Forensics. No inspection, license, or enforcement history was found for Lee Reiber or Oxygen Forensics in the documents reviewed.

Why It Matters

The arrest of Lee Reiber and the charges against him illustrate allegations that a U.S. government contractor concealed foreign ownership to secure federal contracts. Oxygen Forensics secured a $12 million contract with the National Computer Forensics Institute despite false certifications about its ownership and software development. The company's software was used by multiple U.S. law enforcement and intelligence agencies, including the Secret Service and Homeland Security Investigations.

The case involves coordinated actions to remove Russian nationals from public corporate filings following expanded U.S. sanctions. Five Russian nationals allegedly controlled the company through a Cyprus-based holding company while Reiber served as the public face of the organization. The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking the extradition of Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, who directed the Russian development team. The investigation continues with the seizure of company assets and domains.

Timeline

On September 19, 2026, Oxygen Forensics had a total of 57 domains seized by investigators under a warrant issued on that date.

On September 20, 2026, Lee Reiber, the CEO of Oxygen Forensics, was arrested in Idaho, and Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, a Russian national, was arrested at London Heathrow Airport, according to the United States Department of Justice. Also on September 20, 2026, the United States Department of Justice issued a public statement announcing the arrests of Lee Reiber and Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, charging them with concealing Russian ownership of Oxygen Forensics from U.S. government agencies.

What's New

Later reporting indicates that Lee Reiber, the CEO of Oxygen Forensics, was arrested in Idaho on September 20, 2026, and Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, a Russian national, was arrested at London Heathrow Airport on the same day, according to the United States Department of Justice. The United States Department of Justice issued a public statement on September 20, 2026, announcing the arrests of Lee Reiber and Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, charging them with concealing Russian ownership of Oxygen Forensics from U.S. government agencies.

Additional details show that Max Weissberg, a former Oxygen Forensics employee, made public allegations about the company in a YouTube video in February 2026, claiming that the Russian government had direct oversight of the company. Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, one of the five Russian nationals, co-founded Oxygen Software LLC (later renamed MKO Systems LLC) in 2000 and served as its chief technology officer. Oxygen Forensics secured a $12 million, five-year contract with the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) of the U.S. Secret Service in September 2024, despite false certifications from Lee Reiber about the company's ownership and software development.

Max Weissberg made public allegations about Oxygen Forensics in a YouTube video in February. Lee Reiber received $250,000 in compensation as CEO of Oxygen Forensics. Research titled "Development of Mosaic-like MnO2MnOx Heterostructures with Arrested 2D Morphology for Oxygen Electrocatalysis" was also noted in related materials.

How Sources Differ

The U.S. Department of Justice criminal complaint alleges that Lee Reiber helped conceal the Russian ownership and development of Oxygen Forensics.

The U.S. Department of Justice criminal complaint alleges that Lee Reiber falsely represented to government agencies that Oxygen Forensics had no foreign ownership or control.

The U.S. Department of Justice criminal complaint alleges that Lee Reiber falsely represented that Oxygen Forensics software was developed in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Justice criminal complaint states that Lee Reiber denied any Russian ownership or involvement in the software's development during a recorded call with undercover agents posing as Homeland Security officials in March.

The U.S. Department of Justice criminal complaint states that Oxygen Forensics secured a five-year, $12 million contract with the Secret Service's National Computer Forensics Institute in September 2024.

The U.S. Secret Service statement confirms that the U.S. Secret Service previously used Oxygen Forensics software but discontinued use in February after security risks were identified.

fact_check Facts

Lee Reiber, 55, was arrested in Boise, Idaho.
Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, 52, was arrested at London's Heathrow Airport.
Lee Reiber and Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Conspiracy to commit wire fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
U.S. authorities are seeking the extradition of Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov.
Lee Reiber is the chief executive of Oxygen Forensics.
Oxygen Forensics is based in Alexandria, Virginia.
Oxygen Forensics sells digital forensics software used to extract and analyze data from phones and computers.
Federal prosecutors allege Lee Reiber helped conceal the Russian ownership and development of Oxygen Forensics.
Five Russian nationals owned and controlled Oxygen Forensics through a Cyprus-based holding company.
Oxygen Forensics software was developed by a team in Russia.
Oleg Davydov directed the team in Russia that developed Oxygen Forensics software.
Oleg Fedorov and Galina Rabotenko are Russian nationals associated with Oxygen Forensics.
Lee Reiber became CEO, president, and chairman of Oxygen Forensics in March 2022.
Russian owners' names were removed from Oxygen Forensics public corporate filings following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Federal prosecutors allege Lee Reiber falsely represented to government agencies that Oxygen Forensics had no foreign ownership or control.
Federal prosecutors allege Lee Reiber falsely represented that Oxygen Forensics software was developed in the U.S.
Lee Reiber signed government paperwork in December 2022 and October 2023 stating Oxygen Forensics was independent and had no external owner.
The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it previously used Oxygen Forensics software but discontinued use in February after security risks were identified.
Oxygen Forensics secured a five-year, $12 million contract with the Secret Service's National Computer Forensics Institute in September 2024.
Investigators seized Oxygen Forensics corporate bank accounts and roughly 57 web domains under a warrant issued September 19.
Lee Reiber denied any Russian ownership or involvement in the software's development during a recorded call with undercover agents posing as Homeland Security officials in March.
Max Weissberg is a former Oxygen Forensics employee.
Max Weissberg made public allegations about Oxygen Forensics in a YouTube video in February.
Oxygen Forensics sued Max Weissberg for defamation in August in federal court in Virginia.
The U.S. Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security is investigating the Oxygen Forensics case.
Lee Reiber was paid $250,000 for his role as CEO of Oxygen Forensics.
Lee Reiber, CEO of Oxygen Forensics
Lee Reiber wrote in an email to Oleg Davydov and two other Russian owners that public reporting on their connection "could destroy this entire opportunity."
Lee Reiber, CEO of Oxygen Forensics
Lee Reiber wrote in an email that the "current existence of this company hangs in the balance."
Max Weissberg, Former Employee of Oxygen Forensics
Max Weissberg said, "In my opinion, there is no way the Russian government would allow an important company like Oxygen Forensics to be controlled by an American without direct oversight."
Max Weissberg, Former Employee of Oxygen Forensics
Max Weissberg said, "Lee is clearly a figurehead, which is what I eye-witnessed as well."
Max Weissberg, Former Employee of Oxygen Forensics
Max Weissberg said, "But as a handsome, former cop far from the big city, he had the trust factor."
Lee Reiber lives in Boise, Idaho.
Lee Reiber is expected to be arraigned in federal court in Los Angeles in the coming weeks.
Oxygen Forensics customers included the U.S. Secret Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Department of War.
Lee Reiber, CEO of Oxygen Forensics
Lee Reiber said, "I can't go there. I'm one of the persons they would arrest."

menu_bookBackground & Sources

Context and data our newsroom added to the originating report, with the primary source for each item shown below it.

Lee Reiber was hired as COO of Oxygen Forensics in 2015.
Lee Reiber worked as a police officer in Boise from 1995 to 2009.
Courtney Reiber, Lee Reiber's daughter, worked at Oxygen Forensics.
Oleg Fedorov was identified as Oxygen Forensics CEO in a 2017 Forbes report.
Oleg Fedorov told Forbes he tries to stay away from the goals of the Russian government and the KGB.
Lee Reiber, the CEO of Oxygen Forensics, was arrested in Idaho on September 20, 2026, and Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, a Russian national, was arrested at London Heathrow Airport on the same day, according to the United States Department of Justice.
The United States Department of Justice issued a public statement on September 20, 2026, announcing the arrests of Lee Reiber and Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, charging them with concealing Russian ownership of Oxygen Forensics from U.S. government agencies.
Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, one of the five Russian nationals, co-founded Oxygen Software LLC (later renamed MKO Systems LLC) in 2000 and served as its chief technology officer.
Source: justice.gov
Max Weissberg, a former Oxygen Forensics employee, made public allegations about the company in a YouTube video in February 2026, claiming that the Russian government had direct oversight of the company.
Source: justice.gov
Lee Reiber served as a detective and forensic examiner for the Boise Police Department from 1995 to 2009.
Oxygen Forensics secured a $12 million, five-year contract with the National Computer Forensics Institute (NCFI) of the U.S. Secret Service in September 2024, despite false certifications from Lee Reiber about the company’s ownership and software development.
Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov was removed from Oxygen Forensics' public corporate filings in June 2022, following the imposition of expanded U.S. sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
Lee Reiber was a detective and forensic examiner for the Boise Police Department from 1995 to 2009.
In March 2022, following the expansion of U.S. sanctions against Russia, Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov was removed from Oxygen Forensics' public corporate filings.
Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, one of the Russian co-conspirators, was the chief technology officer of Oxygen Software LLC, which later became MKO Systems LLC, and was responsible for the development of its software.
Source: justice.gov
The United States Department of Justice, specifically the Office of International Affairs, is investigating the matter, with the goal of seeking the extradition of Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov from the United Kingdom.
Lee Reiber was promoted to CEO of Oxygen Forensics in March 2022, following expanded U.S. sanctions on Russia after its invasion of Ukraine.
Lee Reiber received $250,000 in compensation as CEO of Oxygen Forensics.
Source: justice.gov
Lee Reiber earned a bachelor’s degree in mobile/computer forensics and digital investigation from Champlain College in 2016.
Lee Reiber was paid $250,000 annually as CEO of Oxygen Forensics.
Source: justice.gov
No inspection, license, or enforcement history was found for Lee Reiber or Oxygen Forensics in the documents reviewed, which included a criminal complaint and press releases from the United States Department of Justice.

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