FBI Agents Sent to Investigate Crimes on Montana Indian Reservations

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - The U.S. Justice Department has sent a surge of 60 FBI personnel to investigate what are termed unresolved investigations into violent crimes on Indian reservations in Montana and throughout Indian Country in the U.S.

I spoke with newly reappointed U.S. Attorney Kurt Alme on Friday about this special six-month push to bring these unresolved cases to justice.

FBI Agents to Take Part in Operation Not Forgotten

“Operation Not Forgotten, is an operation which was launched by Attorney General (Pamela) Bondi to surge 60 FBI agents into different field offices around the country to help address unresolved violent crimes in Indian country, including crimes relating to missing and murdered indigenous people,” began Alme.

One of the cases closest to the hearts of those here in western Montana is that of Jermain Charlo, who was last seen on June 16, 2018.

The Case of Jermain Charlo will also be Included in the Investigations

"Jermain Charlo is certainly one of those cases,” he said. “There have been several others in Montana where we have unsolved murders or missing persons that that we're not sure they're a crime yet, but they're cases that need to be resolved. So those cases are certainly of interest, as well as other unresolved violent crimes in Indian country, not just those that involve murders.”

Alme said he is grateful for the ‘full-court press’ initiated by the U.S. Attorney General that will bring additional law enforcement resources into Montana’s Indian Country.

“We're very grateful that the attorney general is sending additional agents around the country, and we expect to get several additional agents in Montana throughout the next six-month period,” he said. “We're grateful for that, for the hope of providing additional public safety to our Native American reservations.”

The FBI will be Working Closely with Montana's Indian Reservations

Alme said the FBI will be working closely with law enforcement personnel on Montana’s Indian Reservations.

“Operation Not Forgotten, is primarily focused around the FBI, and we are just grateful for the dedication of the FBI to moving these Indian Country cases along,” he said. “They're going to be teaming up with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, particularly the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ Missing and Murdered unit. Also, tribal law enforcement and tribal prosecutors are going to be primarily involved.”

At the beginning of fiscal year 2025, Alme said the FBI’s Indian Country Program had approximately 4,300 open investigations, including over 900 death investigations, 1,000 child abuse investigations, and more than 500 domestic violence and adult sexual abuse investigations.