A federal effort to bring answers to families affected by violent crime in tribal communities is producing results, including progress in a case involving the 2022 killing of a Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe member on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.
Operation Not Forgotten, now in its fourth year, supported 548 case investigations across the country from April 1 through Sept. 30, a 59% increase from 2025, according to results announced by the Department of Justice and FBI. The operation resulted in 118 arrests, 41 people charged federally, 25 children identified or located, and 72 weapons recovered.
For Northern Nevada, the results include a case involving Anna Scott, a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe who was killed on the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in February 2022. In July, a federal grand jury returned a superseding indictment charging Delshay Astor with her alleged murder. Joel Christy was also charged with assisting Astor in avoiding apprehension.
The case is among those being pursued as federal investigators direct additional resources toward unresolved crimes in tribal communities, with a particular focus on violence against women and children, including missing and murdered people.
Nationwide, the latest Operation Not Forgotten results show a substantial increase in enforcement activity. Arrests rose 123% from 2025, while the number of people charged federally increased 52%. FBI agents conducted 990 interviews and 232 search operations during the six-month effort.
The work addresses a persistent problem in Indian Country, where thousands of investigations remain open. More than 4,000 cases involving matters such as deaths, child abuse, domestic violence, and sexual abuse of adults remain under investigation, underscoring the need for continued resources.
“Native Americans, especially women and children, suffer from disproportionately high rates of violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada. “The District of Nevada reaffirms our commitment to finding the missing and seeking justice for the murdered. Our office stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our local, state, federal, and tribal law enforcement partners to hold accountable those who perpetrate violence against Native Americans.”
FBI Director Kash Patel said the operation represents the bureau's largest commitment to Indian Country in its history. The FBI deployed investigative, intelligence, and support personnel through 12 field offices, including Las Vegas, to help advance cases in coordination with tribal law enforcement, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Missing and Murdered Unit and U.S. attorneys' offices.
The FBI also reported progress through Operation Steadfast Promise, a separate initiative launched in 2026 to address a wider range of violent crime in tribal communities. Since April, that effort has led to more than 1,200 new investigations, criminal charges against 678 people, more than 700 arrests, the recovery of 2,260 weapons and 140 drug seizures.
The two operations reflect a broader effort to bring additional investigative support to cases that can leave families waiting years for answers. For communities such as the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony, the Nevada case illustrates how that nationwide work connects to unresolved violence close to home.
The FBI is also directing attention to cases through its Voices Not Forgotten webpage, which features a searchable map of investigations in Indian Country where authorities are seeking public assistance. In August, the bureau announced a protocol establishing a minimum reward of up to $25,000 for publicly advertised cases involving homicides, kidnappings, and missing people in Indian Country where the FBI has assumed jurisdiction.
Anyone with information about unresolved violent crimes in Indian Country can contact their local FBI field office or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov.
