finance
SPLC Leader Pleads Not Guilty To Federal Fraud Charges
A leader of the Southern Poverty Law Center entered a not guilty plea to an 11-count federal indictment that includes wire fraud, bank fraud, false statements and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Department of Justice alleges the organization funneled more than $3 million to leaders of extremist groups it publicly opposed between 2014 and 2023.
May 10, 6:05 PM·1m read1 source
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The indictment includes six counts of wire fraud, four counts of bank fraud and false statements, and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The charges center on allegations that the organization used a now-defunct informant program to direct more than $3 million to leaders and organizers of racist groups it had publicly condemned.
The court appearance occurred weeks after the indictment was unsealed. Officials said donors were never told their money was supporting the very extremists the organization claimed to oppose.
CEO of the organization issued a statement after the arraignment. The statement said the charges are provably wrong, based on inaccurate facts and a misapplication of law. >"The charges against the SPLC are provably wrong; they are based on inaccurate facts and a misapplication of law.
There is no question that the information the SPLC shared with law enforcement saved lives. " — SPLC interim president and CEO (ZeroHedge) The statement added that the organization provided information to law enforcement that saved lives and that it would continue its work against white supremacy and injustice.
Blanche stated at the indictment announcement that the organization manufactured racism to justify its existence. Officials said using donor money to allegedly profit off Klansmen could not go unchecked. FBI Director Kash Patel added that the organization allegedly engaged in a massive fraud operation to deceive donors, enrich itself and hide its operations.
Officials said the group lied to donors by vowing to dismantle violent extremist groups while paying leaders of those groups and using funds to facilitate state and federal crimes. The organization maintains the allegations are unfounded. The case remains pending in federal court.
