Federal Grand Jury Probes Neville Roy Singham’s Funding of U.S. Activist Groups Amid Security Concerns

A federal grand jury in Manhattan has issued subpoenas as part of an ongoing investigation into the financial network of Neville Roy Singham, a Shanghai-based tech entrepreneur accused of channeling hundreds of millions of dollars into U.S. activist groups with alleged ties to foreign governments, according to Fox News Digital.

The probe highlights concerns among intelligence experts and federal officials that Singham’s funding of socialist and Marxist organizations in the United States may pose a national security threat by supporting coordinated protests and campaigns that critics say undermine U.S. interests.

Singham, 72, sold his tech company for $800 million in 2017 and has since directed at least $278 million to a network of nonprofits, including the People's Forum, Breakthrough News, Tri-Continental, and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, Fox News Digital reported. These groups have organized demonstrations on issues ranging from anti-ICE and anti-Israel protests to opposition to U.S. artificial intelligence and data center projects. The investigation is part of a broader set of inquiries by federal prosecutors and Congressional committees into foreign-backed influence operations in the U.S.

Federal Investigation and Subpoenas

Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche authorized the grand jury to issue subpoenas as part of the probe, which was launched by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton for the Southern District of New York. The district is known for handling high-profile federal prosecutions. According to sources familiar with the matter, the investigation is examining whether Singham’s network has violated laws related to unregistered foreign agents and the movement of funds to politically active nonprofits.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent met with Goldman Sachs Chairman and CEO David Solomon in New York earlier this year, where Bessent reportedly pressed the bank to cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigation into Singham’s financial network. A Goldman Sachs spokesperson told Fox News Digital, “All distributions from Mr. Singham's donor-advised fund were made to legally recognized nonprofit organizations, as determined by the IRS. No distributions have been made from the account since August 2023, and it was closed in early 2024.”

Alleged Foreign Influence and Security Risks

Adam Sohn, co-founder and CEO of the Network Contagion Research Institute, described Singham’s network as a significant security threat, alleging that the funding enables coordinated activism that goes beyond typical protest activity. “Without his money, these nonprofits have no reason for existence,” Sohn told Fox News Digital. “These aren't protests, it's coordinated chaos and attacks on infrastructure.”

"This same organizing muscle that's been shutting down bridges, shutting down airports, attacking police officers, they're now redeployed onto the artificial intelligence the United States is trying to engage in with China and other countries."

— Adam Sohn, Network Contagion Research Institute CEO

Sohn further claimed that Singham’s network has ties to foreign governments, including Venezuela, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and Cuba. He said his organization has provided information to the Southern District of New York about foreign-backed influence on U.S. AI policy. Sohn also alleged that Iranian operatives are formally partnered with the Singham networks, though Fox News Digital noted it could not independently verify this claim.

Impact on U.S. AI and Infrastructure Projects

Researchers at the Bitcoin Policy Institute released a report last week stating that an estimated $23.6 billion in proposed AI and data center investments has been delayed, scaled back, or blocked in campaigns where the Party for Socialism and Liberation played a critical role. While opponents of these projects often cite environmental concerns, proponents argue that blocking data centers could put the U.S. at a disadvantage in the global race for artificial intelligence, particularly against China.

Singham’s network has also been linked to protests that have resulted in clashes with law enforcement, including a recent incident at the Delaney Hall ICE facility in Newark, New Jersey. The groups involved, such as the People's Forum and the Party for Socialism and Liberation, regularly mobilize activists for demonstrations across the country.

Responses and Ongoing Developments

Singham has not responded to repeated requests for comment from Fox News Digital regarding the investigation. A source familiar with the Goldman Sachs meeting described the discussion between Bessent and Solomon as cordial, with Solomon expressing willingness to aid federal investigators. Congressional committees and top lawmakers in Washington, D.C., are also conducting related inquiries into Singham’s activities and the broader issue of foreign influence in U.S. political advocacy.

Supporters of the nonprofits funded by Singham argue that their activities are protected political advocacy and that all donations have been made to legally recognized organizations. Federal authorities have not announced any charges or findings in the ongoing investigation.