The Aporia · DOJ arrests two, seizes 187 devices in North Korean laptop farm crackdown in Texas

The U.S. Department of Justice announced on October 13 the arrests of Michael James Bostelle from Pennsylvania and Juan Cecilio Pena Carrillo from Texas, along with the seizure of approximately 187 devices during a crackdown on North Korean “laptop farms” in Texas between September 21 and 25. The DOJ charged Bostelle and Pena with wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft as part of an operation where North Korean IT workers used fraudulent identities to work for U.S. companies to raise funds for their government. The indictment also includes charges against ten individuals based in China who directed the scheme from there.

Written by AI on 2026-10-13, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

As of October 13, 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the arrests of Michael James Bostelle from Pennsylvania and Juan Cecilio Pena Carrillo from Texas for their involvement in a scheme to help North Korean IT workers steal identities and secure fraudulent employment at US companies. The DOJ also seized approximately 187 laptops and other devices during searches conducted by the FBI between September 21 and September 25, targeting more than 40 residences in Texas suspected of operating as "laptop farms" for North Koreans. Additionally, ten individuals based in China were charged for their roles in facilitating this operation, which is estimated to have compromised the identities of 25 Americans and caused false information to be sent to multiple U.S. government agencies, generating at least $3 million in revenue for North Korea.

Written for “FBI Cracks Down On North Korean Laptop Farms” on 2026-11-05, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 FBI Cracks Down On North Korean Laptop Farms

Crime & Law · 2 article(s) covering the same event. See how they differ ↓

This article reads unscored and hedges 29% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

FBI disrupts Pyongyang revenue stream: North Koreans in US tech jobs Same event

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DOJ arrests two, seizes 187 devices in North Korean laptop farm crackdown in Texas Oct 13 - asserted

DOJ → arrest → Texas

The US Department of Justice on Tuesday announced the arrests of two Americans accused of helping North Korean IT workers to steal identities and obtain fraudulent employment at US companies to earn money for the North Korean government. asserted

workers → announce → government

The agency announced the arrests of Michael James Bostelle, of Pennsylvania, and Juan Cecilio Pena Carrillo, of Texas, on charges of wire fraud, money laundering and identity theft as part of the alleged scheme, the DOJ said in a statement. asserted

DOJ → announce → statement

• As part of the crackdown, the DOJ announced that the FBI conducted searches and took other action between September 21 and September 25 at more than 40 residences in Texas thought to be operating as “laptop farms” for North Korean IT workers, the DOJ said. asserted

DOJ → announce → workers

The FBI seized roughly 187 laptops and other devices used to carry out the scheme. asserted

FBI → seize → scheme

• The indictment also charged Sun Sheng Ming, Pei Li Guang, Weng Shou Cheng, Han Guo Bin, Wang Jian Jun, Sheng Zhang Kun, Zhang Wei Ping, Zhang Li Ping, Yu Yang and Jin Long, all based in China, for their roles in the operation, according to the statement. uncertain

indictment → charge → statement

• According to an indictment unsealed on Tuesday, the Chinese-based operators directed Pena and Tey Michael Nolte, along with at least four other Americans, in the scheme. uncertain

operators → accord → scheme

Nolte was named in the indictment but not charged. asserted

Nolte → name → indictment

• Nolte and attorneys for Pena and Bostelle could not immediately be reached for comment. uncertain

Nolte → reach → comment

Emails sent to addresses that the DOJ alleged were used by the Chinese-based participants went unanswered. asserted

DOJ → send → participants

• Nolte allegedly recruited, managed and trained Bostelle and other Americans, who allowed their names and personal information to be used to permit the North Korea-directed operation to function, in exchange for proceeds from the scheme, the DOJ said. uncertain

DOJ → recruit → scheme

The Americans’ actions included receiving and hosting laptops belonging to US victim companies at their homes, to make it appear as if the North Koreans were legitimate employees operating in the US. asserted

Koreans → include → US

• The “massive” fraud impacted more than 70 U. companies, compromised the identities of 25 Americans, caused false information to be sent to multiple US government agencies, and generated at least $3 million in revenue for the overseas IT workers, the DOJ said. asserted

DOJ → impact → workers

• The US government has for years warned of North Koreans surreptitiously gaining employment at US companies to raise money for the North Korean government, access company networks and steal data. asserted

Koreans → warn → data

DOJ arrests two, seizes 187 devices in North Korean laptop farm crackdown in Texas

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