The Justice Department has announced the results of a six-month initiative, Operation Not Forgotten, which deployed 64 FBI personnel to ten field offices across the United States to address violent crime in Indian Country. The operation focused on crimes related to missing or murdered Indigenous persons and was described as the most extensive national deployment of FBI resources for this purpose.
FBI agents were temporarily assigned for periods ranging from 30 to 90 days in cities including Albuquerque, Denver, Detroit, Jackson (Mississippi), Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Phoenix, Portland (Oregon), Seattle, and Salt Lake City. The effort involved collaboration with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and tribal law enforcement agencies.
“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,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “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 stated: “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.”
The operation was supported by 36 personnel from the BIA Missing and Murdered Unit (BIA MMU). Together they assisted in over 330 investigations during this period. The BIA MMU provided technical expertise using ground-penetrating radar, underwater cameras, and sonar searches.
According to data from Fiscal Year 2025 cited by officials, FBI Indian Country initiatives led to 1,260 individuals charged with crimes; 1,123 arrests; recovery of 304 weapons; and identification or location of 458 child victims.
United States Attorney Timothy Courchaine commented: “The United States Attorney’s Office in Arizona continues to bring the most cases related to crimes affecting tribal members in the country. The national surge in resources brought much needed assets to tribal communities in a number of the twenty-two Indian reservations located throughout the state. Thanks to the continued work of our tribal, FBI, and BIA partners, Assistant United States Attorneys in our office will continue to bring justice for crime victims and their communities.”
FBI Phoenix Acting Special Agent in Charge Matt Schaeffer added: “Agents assigned to Indian Country offices have significant caseloads and most of those cases include extremely violent crimes. The surge of resources here in Arizona thanks to Operation Not Forgotten provided our agents some additional help to move cases along quicker and served as a force multiplier with the primary goal of helping victims and ensuring that justice is served.”
During Operation Not Forgotten’s six-month period from April through September 2025 in Arizona alone, approximately 154 investigations into violent crime were opened by federal prosecutors relating specifically to Indian Country. More than 73 indictments or complaints were obtained during this time.
Among those prosecuted as part of these efforts:
– Kevin Ronnie Tungovia was arrested on charges including sexual abuse of a minor and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.
– Richard Alex Buitimea received a ten-year prison sentence after being convicted for possession of child pornography following an investigation initiated by a tip from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
At the start of Fiscal Year 2025 there were about 4,300 open investigations within FBI’s Indian Country program nationwide—over 900 death investigations; roughly 1,000 child abuse cases; more than 500 domestic violence or adult sexual abuse matters.
Operation Not Forgotten builds upon earlier federal efforts under Executive Order 13898—Establishing the Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives—and marks its third deployment since inception. Over three years these operations have provided investigative support for more than 760 cases leading collectively to hundreds of arrests and convictions as well as services offered for nearly two thousand victims or their families.
The Justice Department plans further support through its MMIP Regional Outreach Program which places attorneys and coordinators within U.S. Attorneys’ Offices nationwide aimed at preventing or responding effectively when Indigenous people go missing or are murdered.
