The Justice Department has reported results from a six-month effort aimed at addressing violent crime in Indian Country, including cases involving missing or murdered Indigenous persons. The initiative involved the deployment of 64 FBI personnel who rotated through temporary duty assignments ranging from 30 to 90 days. These agents supported field offices in cities such as Albuquerque, Denver, Detroit, Jackson (Mississippi), Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland (Oregon), Seattle, and Salt Lake City. The operation was conducted in partnership with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and tribal law enforcement agencies.
Attorney General Pamela Bondi stated, “These dedicated efforts by FBI agents, together with the BIA and our tribal law enforcement partners, have solved crimes, protected victims of violence, and brought much needed safety and security to communities in Indian country. We will never forget the crime victims whose cases remain unsolved, and we will continue our pursuit until justice is served.”
FBI Director Kash Patel added, “One of the biggest problems tribal communities face is the vast amount of land to account for, requiring significant resources to crush violent crime. As FBI Director, I’m committed to surging personnel to these areas and working hand-in-hand with Tribal partners. Operation Not Forgotten is a major step forward in giving these communities the justice that they deserve.”
In addition to FBI staff, 36 members from the BIA Missing and Murdered Unit (BIA MMU) participated in the operation. Together they assisted in more than 330 investigations and provided technical support using ground-penetrating radar, underwater cameras, and sonar searches.
During fiscal year 2025 alone, initiatives under the FBI’s Indian Country program led to charges against 1,260 individuals; 1,123 arrests; recovery of 304 weapons; and identification or location of 458 child victims.
Several specific cases were highlighted as part of this surge:
- Three people were indicted on federal charges after an unsolved murder from New Mexico in 2020. Austin Begay was charged with first-degree murder for the shooting death of Zachariah Shorty. Jaymes Fage and Joshua Watkins were also charged for crimes related to concealing the murder.
- Renaldo Descheny faces charges including assault with a dangerous weapon after allegedly strangling and striking Jane Doe with a firearm.
- Armondo Paul was arrested following a fatal stabbing incident at a residence in Shiprock.
- Keanu Lee was charged with multiple counts including aggravated sexual abuse and kidnapping.
Convictions resulting from investigations during this period include:
- Marvin Albert Wauneka received a sentence of 40 months for causing a drunk driving crash on Navajo Nation land that resulted in two deaths.
- Antoine Scott was sentenced to 28 months in prison for assault resulting in serious bodily injury during an incident on the Warm Springs reservation.
At the start of fiscal year 2025, there were approximately 4,300 open investigations within the FBI’s Indian Country program. These included over 900 death investigations and more than 500 cases involving domestic violence or adult sexual abuse.
Operation Not Forgotten builds upon earlier efforts established under Executive Order 13898 during President Trump’s administration. This marks its third deployment over three years; combined operations have supported over 760 cases leading to hundreds of arrests and convictions while providing services to nearly 2,000 victims or their families.
The initiative also benefits from additional resources via the Department’s MMIP Regional Outreach Program. This program places attorneys and community coordinators within U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide to help address cases involving missing or murdered Indigenous people.
