Federal prosecutors have indicted Lee Reiber, a former Boise Police Department officer, for allegedly concealing Russian ownership of his software company while securing government contracts. The indictment marks a significant federal investigation into the integrity of technology vendors serving U.S. law enforcement agencies.
Allegations of Concealed Foreign Ownership
Reiber, 55, served with the Boise Police Department from 1995 to 2009 before entering the private sector. In March 2022, he assumed the roles of CEO, president, and chairman of Oxygen Forensics Inc., a Virginia-based software firm. Federal charges allege that Reiber certified the company had no foreign affiliations to obtain a five-year contract through the National Computer Forensics Institute.
Prosecutors contend that Oxygen Forensics was actually owned and controlled by Russian nationals, including Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov, 52, of Moscow. The indictment further alleges that the company’s forensic software was developed in Russia, contradicting representations that the technology was created within the United States.
Federal Contract Implications
The National Computer Forensics Institute awarded the contract based on Reiber’s certifications regarding the company’s domestic status. Oxygen Forensics also pursued contracts with the Department of War and the Department of Homeland Security. Federal authorities allege that Reiber and Davydov concealed the true ownership and development origins after U.S. sanctions expanded following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The U.S. Department of Justice emphasized that there is no allegation the software contained malicious code or facilitated unauthorized access to government systems or data. The charges focus strictly on the misrepresentation of foreign ties during the contracting process.
Legal Proceedings and Penalties
Reiber was arrested in Idaho and subsequently released on bond. He is scheduled for arraignment in Los Angeles at a later date. Federal authorities are seeking to extradite Davydov from Russia to face charges alongside Reiber.
If convicted, each defendant faces up to 20 years in federal prison. The case underscores federal scrutiny of foreign influence in critical technology sectors serving American public safety institutions.