A federal grand jury in Manhattan has issued subpoenas as part of a Justice Department investigation into Neville Roy Singham, the China-based tech investor whose financial network moved $285 million into U.S. nonprofit organizations and political groups over the last decade, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The probe is being led by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York, one of the country's most prominent federal prosecution districts. Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche authorized the investigation as part of the Trump administration's effort to target alleged fraud, money laundering and other financial crimes in the nonprofit sector, according to those sources.
Federal prosecutors are examining whether Singham, organizations he funded or their leaders committed wire fraud, bank fraud, money laundering or related offenses. The grand jury has issued subpoenas seeking bank records and financial documents from entities within Singham's network, the sources said.
Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, declined to comment on the investigation.
What the Right Is Saying
Republican officials and law enforcement advocates say the investigation is focused on potential financial crimes, not political viewpoints. They argue that wire fraud, bank fraud and money laundering are serious offenses regardless of who commits them or what ideological causes they support.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met earlier this year with Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO David Solomon to discuss a Goldman Sachs philanthropy fund that facilitated Singham's donations. According to sources familiar with the meeting, Bessent urged Goldman Sachs to cooperate fully with federal investigators and warned the bank could face scrutiny for its role in handling the funds.
Goldman Sachs has extensive business relationships in China, including participation in meetings with Chinese Communist Party officials. The company has pledged cooperation with the investigation, according to those sources.
What the Left Is Saying
Civil liberties advocates and some progressive legal experts argue that investigations into political giving raise First Amendment concerns. They note that nonprofit organizations receiving donations from wealthy individuals is a legal activity protected under American law.
The appearance of investigating political organizations based on their ideological orientation could chill protected speech, according to critics on the left. They say philanthropy and political advocacy are constitutionally protected activities regardless of whether one agrees with the groups' views.
Some progressive commentators have questioned the timing of the investigation, noting that previous administrations did not pursue similar probes against donors to conservative causes. They argue that applying scrutiny selectively based on political ideology undermines democratic norms.
What the Numbers Show
$285 million: The amount Singham is alleged to have moved from Shanghai into U.S. organizations through a Goldman Sachs philanthropy fund and two shell corporations, according to Fox News Digital's prior reporting.
A 172-page report attributed to Singham outlines his theory of change, invoking communist leader Mao Zedong's strategy for spreading communism, the original reporting found.
Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon accompanied President Donald Trump on a May delegation to China that included meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other Communist Party officials.
The Bottom Line
The grand jury investigation represents an escalation in federal scrutiny of Singham's financial activities. Prosecutors must demonstrate that criminal statutes were violated, not merely that funds supported controversial political causes.
If the grand jury returns indictments, they would mark a significant test of the administration's approach to pursuing financial crimes regardless of their ideological beneficiaries. The case could also set precedents regarding transparency requirements for international donations to U.S. nonprofits.
The investigation is ongoing. No charges have been filed.