Federal indictments in the killing of Anna Scott, a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, following a four-year quest for justice were highlighted by the Department of Justice and FBI last week in announcing the results of the 2026 personnel surge focused on unresolved cases in Indian Country.
Operation Not Forgotten, now in its fourth year, surged investigative resources nationwide from April 1 through Sept. 30. The effort supported 548 case investigations, a 59% increase from 2025, and resulted in 118 arrests, 41 individuals charged federally, 25 child victims identified or located and 72 weapons recovered. FBI agents conducted 990 interviews and 232 search operations, with arrests up 123% and federal charges up 52% over last year.
“Operation Not Forgotten sends a loud and clear message that our long-forgotten partners in Indian Country are forgotten no more,” FBI Director Kash Patel said.
Patel called this year’s surge the bureau’s largest commitment to Indian Country in its history, noting more than 500 cases worked during the six-month period. He noted that since he took leadership of the bureau, the FBI has followed through on its pledge to support tribal nations by deploying 400 agents dedicated to Indian Country, embedding 30 Safe Trails Task Forces and expanding its Voices Not Forgotten program. Under that initiative, the FBI has quadrupled its reward offerings to at least $25,000 for information associated with homicides, kidnappings and missing persons in Indian Country.
The case involving Scott was among those charged during the surge. In July, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Delshay Astor with her alleged murder on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in February 2022. The indictment also charged Joel Christy with assisting Astor in avoiding apprehension. They are scheduled to stand trial in April 2027.
Other examples of cases charged during the surge include:
District of Wyoming: 18 individuals indicted for violent crimes and child abuse offenses on the Wind River Indian Reservation, including U.S. v. Jose Benito Ocon, arising from an August 2025 homicide near Riverton, and U.S. v. Darlynn Sheree Seminole, involving allegations of severe physical trauma inflicted on a 10-year-old.
District of Minnesota: Four cases charged involving violent and sexual offenses in Indian Country, including U.S. v. Courtney John Barrett Sr., indicted Sept. 22 on two counts of sexual abuse of a minor.
District of Montana: Charges filed against Michael Plentybuffalo in the death of Shann Nomee, who went missing in January 2024 and was later found deceased north of Lodge Grass. In a separate case, Lance Crookedarm was charged with a May 2026 violent assault and nonfatal strangulation.
District of Arizona: At least four cases charged, including violent assaults, an arson and aggravated sexual abuse of a minor under 12 on the Navajo Nation, as well as an additional assault on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation.
The FBI also highlighted progress under Operation Steadfast Promise, launched in 2026 as a broader surge addressing violent criminal threats in Indian Country. Since April, the operation has opened more than 1,200 new investigations, obtained charges against 678 subjects, made more than 700 arrests, recovered 2,260 weapons and made 140 drug seizures.
The FBI also emphasized its Voices Not Forgotten webpage, which includes a searchable map of Indian Country cases where public assistance is sought. In August, the bureau established a minimum reward of up to $25,000 for publicly advertised cases involving homicides, kidnappings and missing persons in Indian Country where the FBI has jurisdiction.
The FBI encourages anyone with information related to unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country to contact their local FBI field office or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.
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