FBI Seizes 187 Devices in Texas in North Korean Remote-Work Scheme
Federal authorities searched more than 40 Texas residences and seized 187 laptops and other devices used by North Korean operatives to obtain remote jobs at U.S. companies under false identities. The operation, called Operation Lonestar Roundup, targeted laptop farms that let overseas workers access employer-issued computers while earnings were sent to North Korean-controlled accounts. CrowdStrike said the broader campaign affected over 70 U.S. companies and included two arrests in Ohio, though the Justice Department’s Texas announcement did not mention those arrests.
Operation Lonestar Roundup covered over 40 Texas homes, yielding 187 laptops and keyboard-video-mouse devices; about 100 came from North Texas. Prosecutors say facilitators configured employer-issued machines so overseas operatives could work remotely, then routed wages to North Korean-controlled accounts. CrowdStrike calls the network Famous Chollima and says the wider campaign reached more than 70 U.S. companies, with two Ohio arrests.
A June operation involved searches at 29 suspected laptop farms in 16 states, including alleged theft of export-controlled data from a California defense contractor. CrowdStrike listed affected sectors: aerospace, energy, financial services, health care, cybersecurity, defense engineering and government technology. Operatives allegedly filed false stolen-laptop reports, claimed relocations, or used staffing firms to redirect equipment.
The seizures may complicate hiring verification for U.S. employers, particularly in defense, aerospace and government technology, where a single unwitting hire could expose sensitive systems. Workers at affected firms might face tighter identity checks and device controls, adding friction to remote onboarding. For North Korea, disrupted laptop farms could temporarily slow a revenue stream tied to its weapons programs, though the campaign's scale suggests operators may adapt. Ordinary job seekers could see longer verification steps as companies respond.