FBI raids 40 laptop farms in North Korean fake

Feeds.4Sysops •IT News • October 14, 2026

The FBI seized 187 devices from more than 40 Texas residences used in a North Korean fake-worker scheme, disrupting a network that prosecutors say generated over $3 million from more than 70 U.S. companies. The operation exposes how stolen identities and U.S.-hosted laptops helped overseas workers pose as legitimate remote employees. Source

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US Disrupts North Korean Laptop Farms Generating $3 Million in Fraud The US Department of Justice has arrested two US nationals, Michael James Bostelle and Juan Cecilio Pena Carrillo, for their roles in a scheme that facilitated North Korean IT workers to obtain remote jobs at US companies using stolen identities. This operation, named 'Operation Lonestar Roundup', involved raids on over 40 laptop farms in Texas, resulting in the seizure of 187 laptops and other devices. The fraudulent activities reportedly generated over $3 million for the North Korean regime, which is believed to funnel these earnings into weapons programs. The investigation revealed that the North Korean operatives utilized various deception techniques, including fake identities and VPNs, to mask their true locations. The indictment also includes several Chinese nationals, highlighting the international scope of the operation. CrowdStrike, which assisted the FBI, tracks this group under the name 'Famous Chollima'. The DOJ emphasizes that these schemes pose a significant threat to national security. 22 sources 66

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