Federal prosecutors are scrutinizing no less than 10 political nonprofit teams — together with 5 recently profiled in The New York Times — in search of to find out if the teams defrauded donors, in line with two latest subpoenas.

The subpoenas, each signed by the identical Manhattan-based federal prosecutor, sought recordings of the fund-raising calls made by two separate networks of political nonprofits that collectively have raised tens of tens of millions of {dollars}.

In the final 5 years, the Justice Department has charged a handful of different political operatives with fraud for operating what prosecutors known as “scam PACs.” Prosecutors said these groups deceived donors by promising that their cash can be used to assist politicians — then utilizing it to counterpoint themselves.

The teams listed within the latest subpoenas haven’t been charged with any crime, they usually have denied wrongdoing previously. Spokesmen for each the New York F.B.I. workplace, which is conducting the investigation with federal prosecutors, and the U.S. legal professional’s workplace for the Southern District of New York declined to remark.

One of the 2 latest subpoenas was signed May 15, in line with a replica obtained by The Times. It sought recordings of fund-raising calls from 5 nonprofits that The Times had profiled a day earlier: the American Police Officers Alliance, the National Police Support Fund, the American Veterans Honor Fund, the Firefighters and EMS Fund and the Veterans Action Network.

The subpoena mentioned that prosecutors within the Southern District of New York had been investigating allegations of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud.

These teams are “527s,” named for a bit of the tax code and overseen by the Internal Revenue Service. They are imagined to focus totally on serving to candidates for workplace.

Together, these 5 teams have raised $89 million since 2014, principally from small-dollar donors who answered fund-raising robocalls. The largest of the 5 teams, the American Police Officers Alliance, promised in its calls to “support legislators whose goals are to keep our communities safer,” and to assist the households of first responders killed within the line of responsibility.

But about 90 % of the cash raised was used to pay for extra robocalls. Another 3 % was paid to 3 political operatives from Wisconsin, who seemed to be the driving power behind all 5 teams.

Only about 1 % of their cash was spent to assist candidates, by way of donations, commercials or focused get-out-the-vote operations. The American Police Officers Alliance didn’t give any to households of fallen first responders, data confirmed.

One of the 5 teams, the Veterans Action Network, shuttered in 2019. Its former president didn’t reply to a request for remark.

A lawyer for the opposite 4, James Skyles, mentioned in an e mail on Wednesday that the teams “are aware” of a Justice Department investigation, however declined to say how they discovered of it or when.

Previously, the nonprofits have mentioned that they adopted the legislation, and that the I.R.S. had not too long ago examined their returns and instructed them they might face no penalties. On Wednesday, Mr. Skyles mentioned the teams had “absolutely not” dedicated wire fraud.

In the opposite subpoena, federal prosecutors sought recordings of fund-raising calls from a separate community of 5 associated political teams. These teams had been political motion committees — an analogous form of political group to a 527, however overseen primarily by the Federal Election Commission and never the I.R.S.

In that subpoena, prosecutors additionally mentioned they had been investigating allegations of wire fraud — in addition to a further cost, cash laundering.

Of the 5 teams talked about in that subpoena, just one — Standing by Veterans PAC — stays energetic. Two others have shuttered: Americans for the Cure of Breast Cancer PAC and Traditional American Values PAC. And two extra, the Association for Emergency Responders and Firefighters PAC and the U.S. Veterans Assistance Foundation PAC, are in search of the Federal Election Commission’s permission to shut.

All 5 shared the identical treasurer: a Wisconsin activist named Robert Piaro, in line with election fee data.

In 2019, the watchdog group Center for Public Integrity reported that some groups run by Mr. Piaro had given nothing in any respect to political candidates, regardless of elevating tens of millions of {dollars}. In 2020, Reuters reported that Mr. Piaro’s groups had paid greater than 80 % of their cash to fund-raising distributors.

Mr. Piaro didn’t reply to requests for touch upon Wednesday. In 2018, he told Politico that his fund-raising costs were high as a result of his teams had been simply getting off the bottom.

Mr. Piaro’s teams don’t share officers or main distributors with the 527 teams profiled in The Times. Mr. Skyles, the lawyer for the 527 teams, mentioned that none of them “have or have ever had any relationship or even contact with Mr. Piaro.”