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Civil Rights Group Indicted on Fraud Charges
The Southern Poverty Law Center has been charged with federal fraud. The group tracks extremist organizations across the United States.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges on Tuesday. The indictment has 11 counts including wire fraud and bank fraud.
It also includes one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering. The Department of Justice says the group secretly sent over $3 million to white supremacist groups.
Payments were allegedly made through shell accounts and prepaid cards. Sources say the payments happened between 2014 and 2023.
Named groups include the Ku Klux Klan and the National Socialist Movement. The charges relate to the group's confidential informant program.
That program was used to infiltrate extremist groups. The Southern Poverty Law Center said it is outraged by what it called false allegations.
Chief executive Bryan Fair said the group is being targeted by the Trump administration. The group says its informant program monitored threats of violence.
It also regularly shared intelligence with law enforcement. The group says it will strongly defend itself.
Klear Note — The Southern Poverty Law Center tracks hate groups and extremist organizations in the US. A confidential informant program places undercover people inside groups to gather intelligence.
Key Terms 5
- indicted
- Formally charged with a crime by a government prosecutor
- wire fraud
- Using electronic communications to carry out a dishonest scheme
- bank fraud
- Deceiving a bank to illegally obtain money
- money laundering
- Hiding where illegally obtained money came from
- shell accounts
- Fake or hidden accounts used to move money secretly