Federal Probe Involving Fuyao Glass America and Third-Party Employment Firm Shakes Ohio Plant

Chinese automotive glass maker Fuyao Glass America was not the target of a recent federal investigation that halted production at its Ohio plant. The investigation, involving multiple federal agencies, centered on a third-party employment company suspected of money laundering, human smuggling, and labor exploitation.

A Chinese automotive glass maker, Fuyao Glass America, states it was not the target of a federal investigation that temporarily halted production last week at its Ohio plant, notably featured in the Oscar-winning Netflix film “American Factory.” Homeland Security agent Jared Murphey revealed the probe focused on money laundering, potential human smuggling, labor exploitation, and financial crimes.

Authorities informed Fuyao that a third-party employment company was the main focus of the investigation, as disclosed in a Shanghai Stock Exchange filing. Federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, and IRS, executed search warrants at the Fuyao plant in Moraine and about 30 other Dayton-area locations last Friday.

Lei Shi, community relations manager for Fuyao Glass America, stated the company's intent to fully cooperate with the investigation. Though production was briefly halted, operations resumed by the end of the day. Fuyao, operating out of a former General Motors factory in Ohio, employs over 2,000 workers and is touted as the world's largest auto glass production facility.

“American Factory,” produced by a company backed by Barack and Michelle Obama, addressed issues like workers' rights, globalization, and automation, and won a 2020 Oscar for best feature-length documentary.