Oxygen Forensics accused of concealing Russian ties and ownership

Oxygen Forensics digital forensics cybersecurity Russian influence law enforcement software

The US Department of Justice has indicted Oxygen Forensics, a Virginia-based digital forensics firm, alleging that its leadership concealed Russian ownership and development ties. CEO Lee Reiber and co-founder Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov are accused of misrepresenting the company as an independent American entity while it was actually controlled by five Russian nationals through a Cyprus-based holding company.

The software, Forensic Detective, has been used by law enforcement agencies across Europe, including in Italy, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Romania. In response to the allegations, the Latvian State Police and the UK Metropolitan Police Service have suspended the software's use. In Romania, the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) has initiated procedures to terminate its contract, though it noted no evidence that previously processed data was compromised.

Investigations reveal the company was involved in EU-funded projects, such as EVIDENCE and INSPECTr, which aimed to improve digital evidence collection. The DOJ alleges the software was developed and maintained by a team in Russia, with links to MKO Systems, a provider for the Russian FSB.

Entities

European Commission · European Union · FSB · Latvian State Police · Lee Reiber · Oleg Sergeyevich Davydov · Oxygen Forensics · U.S. Department of Justice · US Department of Justice

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] The Latvian State Police has suspended the use of the software. www.aktual24.ro · www.europesays.com
[● 6 SOURCES] The US Department of Justice alleges Oxygen Forensics was controlled by five Russian citizens through a Cyprus-based holding company. flux24.ro · adevarul.ro · cybernoz.com · www.hwupgrade.it · www.aktual24.ro · +1 more
[● 2 SOURCES] The DNA has initiated procedures to terminate its contract for Oxygen Forensics software. flux24.ro · www.aktual24.ro
[● 2 SOURCES] DIICOT renewed a license for the software valued at over 75,000 lei. flux24.ro · adevarul.ro
[● 2 SOURCES] The Romanian Ministry of National Defense's Cyber Defense Command purchased the software in August for approximately 107,725 lei. flux24.ro · adevarul.ro
[○ 1 SOURCE] DNA inspections found no evidence that data extracted or processed using the software was compromised. www.aktual24.ro
[● 5 SOURCES] Oleg Sergheevici Davydov and CEO Lee Reiber were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud. adevarul.ro · cybernoz.com · flux24.ro · www.hwupgrade.it · www.ta3.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The UK Metropolitan Police Service has suspended use of the software and launched a full analysis. www.aktual24.ro
[● 5 SOURCES] The company allegedly concealed that its software was developed in Russia. cybernoz.com · flux24.ro · www.hwupgrade.it · adevarul.ro · www.ta3.com