DOJ Dismantles Texas Laptop Farms Linked to $3 Million North Korean Funding, Two Arrested

The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it has seized more than 40 residential locations in Texas and arrested two individuals suspected of operating laptop farms that generated roughly $3 million for the North Korean regime.

Federal agents conducted the coordinated raid in September, targeting a network of homes where dozens of computers were used to perform remote‑worker scams. Investigators described the operation as a concerted effort to cut off a lucrative revenue stream that fuels Pyongyang's illicit activities.

Authorities say the so‑called laptop farms employed unsuspecting victims who were lured into bogus online jobs. The scammers then used the victims' devices to run automated scripts that harvested personal data, processed fraudulent transactions, and performed other cyber‑criminal tasks on behalf of North Korean operators.

Financial analysts estimate that the scheme funneled about $3 million into accounts linked to the North Korean government, a figure that, while modest compared to the regime's broader illicit earnings, still represents a meaningful contribution to its restricted economy.

The two suspects, whose identities have not been released, face charges that include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, identity theft, and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. Prosecutors indicated that the case could serve as a precedent for future actions against similar transnational cyber‑crime enterprises.

Law‑enforcement officials stressed that the crackdown is part of a growing focus on dismantling overseas networks that exploit American citizens and infrastructure to benefit hostile states. The DOJ said it will continue to monitor related activities and collaborate with international partners to disrupt additional revenue channels feeding North Korea's illicit operations.