In December 2019, Mingyu Tang, a wind engineer and meteorologist, joined Texas-based investment firm GH America to work on the Blue Hills Wind onshore wind farm project in West Texas. He was responsible for addressing concerns of wealthy ranchers in Val Verde county who were opposed to the project. However, last summer Tang filed civil claims against GHA for unpaid bonuses and was later sued by GHA for allegedly sharing sensitive company information for personal gain. Tang claims he only shared the information to report illegal activities within the company to his counsel and the FBI is investigating GHA. The federal case is set to go to trial in January 2025.
The trade theft dispute adds to the challenges faced by Sun Guangxin’s Texas business. Sun, a Chinese billionaire, started investing in land and gas wells in the U.S. in 2015, but his business moves led to backlash and the passage of a new Texas state law in 2021 that affected his projects. GHA Barnett, Sun’s natural gas affiliate, faced bankruptcy as creditors filed petitions for unpaid bills. Tang and GHA’s court filings, along with other documents and conversations, shed light on the issues facing the company and the allegations made by Tang against GHA.
Sun Guangxin, a Chinese industrialist, founded the Xinjiang Guanghui Industry Group in 1989 and has interests in various industries, including real estate, oil and gas production, transportation, and automotive services. Mingyu Tang, also from China, studied environmental sciences and atmospheric sciences before working for companies in China, Canada, and the U.S. Tang has lived in the U.S. for over 20 years and is a registered voter.
GHA alleges that Tang diverted his focus to unauthorized side projects and approached company employees for assistance during work hours. Tang reportedly tried to recruit employees for his own energy storage company and shared company information with his personal email address due to technical issues with his work computer. Tang claims GHA’s lawsuit against him for trade theft is in retaliation for reporting illegal activities within the company, including fraud, tax evasion, and illegal firearms purchases.
The allegations concerning illegal activities within GHA, such as falsifying appraisal reports, sham real estate purchasers, tax evasion, and illegal firearms purchases, have added complexity to the case. Tang maintains that he was pressured to participate in these activities and that GHA’s lawsuit against him is an attempt to silence him. GHA denies these allegations and asserts that Tang was running a business out of GHA without authorization.
It remains to be seen whether the case between Tang and GHA will go to trial or settle out of court. The outcome ultimately rests with Sun Guangxin, who has the final say in company decisions. The ongoing legal battle has shed light on the challenges facing Sun’s Texas business and the complexities of the relationships within the company.
