From Dallas Express · Dallas Express · · 1m 10s
FBI Seizes Laptops for North Korean Funds
FBI arrests Texas tech workers for funneling U.S. paychecks to North Korea.
In brief
FBI arrests Texas tech workers for funneling U.S. paychecks to North Korea. FBI seized 187 laptops in Texas to stop North Korean IT workers from using stolen U.S. identities to generate $800 million for weapons programs. Originally reported by Dallas Express.
FBI Operation Lonestar Roundup
Federal agents searched 40+ Texas homes and seized 187 laptops during Operation Lonestar Roundup from September 21 to 25, 2026.
“This investigation is about far more than fraud”
North Korean IT Workers Scheme
Stolen or fabricated U.S. identities enabled North Korean workers to secure remote jobs and generate funds for weapons programs.
Laptop Farms for North Korea
KVM devices allowed remote access to corporate systems while hiding North Korean workers' locations.
Revenue Distribution
North Korea takes 85-90% of revenue generated by North Korean IT workers.
2024 Funding Total
The broader IT worker schemes generated nearly $800 million for North Korea's weapons programs in 2024.
Arrests and Charges
Two arrests made in Ohio for wire fraud conspiracy and money laundering related to North Korean IT schemes.
Google Records Order
Federal court ordered Google to provide records for 11 North Korean worker accounts within 10 days.
The headline
FBI seized 187 laptops in Texas to stop North Korean IT workers from using stolen U.S. identities to generate $800 million for weapons programs.
