US Justice Department reportedly investigating Huang Le over possible links to Supermicro smuggling

The US Justice Department is investigating Huang Le, a woman suspected of spying on former Nvidia chief Jensen Huang, to determine whether entities linked to her were involved in smuggling Supermicro products into China, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Bloomberg cited the person, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, as saying that the previously undisclosed inquiry is being led by the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office. It remains unclear whether the investigation into Huang has any specific connection to chip-smuggling cases in which prosecutors in the US or Asia have already brought charges.

Bloomberg previously reported that the US Justice Department had been leading an investigation into suspected semiconductor smuggling involving Huang’s former employer, Megaspeed. Megaspeed has denied any wrongdoing.

Among the cases in which charges have been brought, one of the most prominent involves Supermicro co-founder Yih-Shyan “Wally” Liaw.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged Liaw and two others in March this year with conspiring to ship servers equipped with Nvidia chips to an unnamed Southeast Asian company before forwarding them to customers in China. Supermicro was not named as a defendant and said it was cooperating with the investigation. Liaw has pleaded not guilty and is no longer with the company.

Before Bloomberg published its report, Supermicro declined to comment on prosecutors’ inquiry into Huang. The company said in a subsequent statement: “Supermicro has been responsive to inquiries and has fully cooperated with US and Taiwanese officials, while also voluntarily providing information and engaging with all requests from Singapore authorities to date. Megaspeed is not, and has never been, a Supermicro customer. Supermicro maintains a robust compliance program and continues to work closely with authorities and industry partners to combat diversion and help protect American innovation.”

Spokespeople for the US Justice Department and the Manhattan US Attorney’s Office declined to comment. It remains unclear what role Huang or entities linked to her may have played in smuggling Supermicro products into China. The Justice Department’s investigation could ultimately conclude without any charges being brought.