Virginia-Based Tech CEO Charged Over Alleged Hidden Russian Control
Lee Reiber and Russian national Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov face conspiracy charges tied to Oxygen Forensics’ alleged ownership and software links to Russia.
Federal prosecutors charged Oxygen Forensics CEO Lee Reiber and Russian national Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov with concealing alleged Russian control of the Virginia-based digital-forensics company while it pursued U.S. government contracts.
Reiber, 55, was arrested in Idaho on Sept. 20 and released on bond after appearing in court Sept. 22. Davydov, 52, was arrested the same day at London Heathrow Airport before a flight to Istanbul. The United States expects to seek his extradition.
Both defendants face one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison if they are convicted. Prosecutors allege five Russian nationals controlled Oxygen through a Cyprus-based holding company, while a Russia-based team directed by Davydov wrote and managed the company’s software.
Oxygen’s government customers included the U.S. Secret Service and its National Computer Forensics Institute, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security’s inspector general and the Department of War. The National Computer Forensics Institute awarded Oxygen a five-year contract in September 2024.
Authorities seized corporate bank accounts, about 57 domains and related cyberinfrastructure under a warrant issued Sept. 19. The complaint does not allege that Oxygen’s software contained malicious code or accessed customer systems without authorization. Reiber and Davydov are presumed innocent.
