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Tech CEO, Russian national charged with hiding firm's Russian ties
CNBC • • nation
Key Points:
- The Justice Department charged Lee Reiber, CEO of Oxygen Forensics, and Russian businessman Oleg Davydov with conspiracy to commit wire fraud for allegedly lying about the company's ownership to U.S. government agencies.
- Oxygen Forensics, which sells digital forensics software used by U.S. law enforcement, was falsely represented as U.S.-owned, while Russian nationals secretly controlled it through a Cyprus holding company.
- Reiber became CEO in March 2022 and signed false government certifications claiming no Russian ownership, helping the company secure a $12 million contract with the Secret Service in 2024.
- The case follows allegations by former employee Max Weissberg, who claimed the company was controlled by Russians with Kremlin ties and that Reiber was paid to hide this; Oxygen Forensics sued Weissberg for defamation.
- Authorities have seized the company’s bank accounts and web domains, and Davydov was arrested in London with extradition sought; all defendants are presumed innocent pending trial.
