# FBI Disrupts North Texas Laptop Farm

The FBI seized 187 laptops and related equipment in Texas during an investigation into North Korean remote IT workers who allegedly used stolen identities and U.S.-based laptop farms to obtain jobs at U.S. companies. The scheme reportedly affected more than 70 companies, including organizations in defense engineering and government technology, and generated revenue for North Korean weapons programs. No solicitation, contract award, or contract value was reported.

- Federal contractors and firms supporting sensitive systems should review remote-worker identity verification, staffing-firm controls, company-device custody, and access monitoring; the signals describe tactics that can bypass hiring checks and obscure who is using company-issued equipment.
- Organizations employing remote IT workers should assess remote-access and incident-reporting procedures alongside onboarding controls, especially where workers can access sensitive company or government systems.
- The FBI directs people with relevant information to report it at ic3.gov.

**Jurisdictions:** federal
**Industries:** Defense & Military, Information Technology, Public Safety
**Topics:** Cybersecurity
**Published:** October 16, 2026

### Government Entities
- Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
- United States Department of Justice (DOJ)
- U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas

### Key Quotes
> Every laptop farm we dismantle shuts down a revenue stream that the North Korean government relies on to fund weapons programs that threaten global stability.
> — Ryan Raybould, U.S. Attorney

> Each laptop seized potentially represents one company that has hired a DPRK IT worker.
> — R. Joseph Rothrock, FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge

### Sources
- [FBI disrupts North Korean ‘laptop farm’ used to infiltrate US companies - Nextgov/FCW](https://www.nextgov.com/cybersecurity/2026/10/fbi-disrupts-north-korean-laptop-farm-used-infiltrate-us-companies/416570) - Nextgov/FCW
- [FBI disrupts North Korean corporate espionage ring in north Texas – Breaking AC News](https://breakingac.com/national-news/fbi-disrupts-north-korean-corporate-espionage-ring-in-north-texas) - Breaking AC News
- [Justice Department Announces Coordinated Actions to Combat North Korean Remote IT Worker Schemes Affecting More than 70 U.S. Companies](https://www.reddit.com/r/cybersecurity/comments/1x7hirp/justice_department_announces_coordinated_actions) - reddit-cybersecurity