Former U.S. cop-turned-CEO accused of hiding Russian ownership of forensics firm tied to federal contracts

# What happened

# Who is involved

• Lee Reiber: Former Boise police officer and minor-league baseball player who joined Oxygen as COO in 2015 and was named CEO, president, and chairman in March 2022.

• Max Weissberg: A former Oxygen employee who became a whistleblower and provided details and a photo showing Russians associated with the company.

Prosecutors and Weissberg say that after Russia invaded Ukraine and the U.S. imposed expanded sanctions, Oxygen's public filings masked ongoing Russian ownership and control. Key points in the complaint and whistleblower account include:

• Ownership structure: Five Russian nationals allegedly owned and controlled Oxygen through a Cyprus-based holding company.
• Development location: The software sold by Oxygen was allegedly developed by a team in Russia rather than in the U.S.
• Operational control: The Russian owners reportedly made significant company decisions, set Reiber's pay, overruled him on payments, and kept signatory authority on bank accounts.
• Misrepresentations: Prosecutors allege Reiber falsely told government agencies that Oxygen had no foreign ownership or control and that its software was developed in the United States.

# Government contracts and agency response

Court documents say Oxygen secured more than $2 million in contracts with U.S. federal agencies. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed it previously used Oxygen's software but stopped using it in February after identifying security risks.

# Background on Reiber

# Timeline highlights

• 2015: Reiber joins Oxygen as chief operating officer.
• March 2022: Reiber becomes CEO, president, and chairman shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine and expanded U.S. sanctions.
• February (year not specified in reporting): The Secret Service discontinues use of Oxygen's software after security concerns.

# What Weissberg provided

Weissberg supplied a photograph showing Russian associates at an Alexandria bowling alley and said Reiber had limited real authority inside the company. Weissberg told the reporting that the Russians were the decision-makers despite Reiber's public role.

# Current status reported

Reiber was arrested in Idaho. Davydov was arrested in London and is being sought for extradition to the United States. Several other Russians associated with the company remain at large according to the reporting.