DOJ Files Superseding Indictment Against Southern Poverty Law Center Alleging Millions in Donor Funds Used for KKK Materials and Extremist Activities

Washington, D.C. – A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Alabama returned a superseding indictment against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) on June 3, 2026, expanding prior fraud charges with new details alleging that $4.1 million in tax-exempt donor funds were used to pay informants who purchased materials for Ku Klux Klan robes, hoods, and cross burnings.

The superseding indictment retains the original 11 counts, including six counts of wire fraud, four counts of making false statements to a federally insured bank, and one count of conspiracy to commit concealment money laundering. It builds on the initial April 21, 2026, indictment by providing additional specifics about how the funds were allegedly misused while the SPLC publicly positioned itself as an opponent of the very extremist groups it was secretly funding.

According to the charges, the SPLC routed millions through shell accounts and fictitious entities such as “Fox Photography” and “Rare Books Warehouse” to conceal payments to at least nine informants embedded in organizations including the Ku Klux Klan, the National Socialist Movement, Aryan Nations-affiliated groups, and individuals involved in the 2017 Charlottesville Unite the Right rally.

Prosecutors allege the informants, internally referred to as “the Fs,” were directed to recruit new members and acquire materials for extremist activities. One informant received over $1 million while fundraising for a neo-Nazi group and allegedly orchestrated a break-in at the National Alliance headquarters. Another attended the Charlottesville rally at the SPLC’s direction and received more than $270,000.

The indictment claims the SPLC failed to disclose these payments to donors while soliciting contributions under the banner of fighting hate, and made false statements to banks to facilitate the transfers. The organization’s revenue and net assets reportedly grew more than 200% between 2010 and 2023.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel announced the original charges in April, describing the case as an example of donor fraud and misuse of nonprofit status. The superseding version adjusts language on bank statements to comply with a recent Supreme Court ruling in Thompson v. United States that narrowed the scope of false statement charges.

The SPLC has pleaded not guilty and maintains the informant program, which dates back to the 1980s, produced valuable intelligence shared with law enforcement. The group argues the prosecution is politically motivated and vindictive, noting an earlier investigation under the first Trump administration did not result in charges. SPLC attorneys have filed motions to dismiss, citing prosecutorial irregularities.

This case is part of the Trump administration’s broader review of major nonprofits and their use of taxpayer-advantaged funds, particularly those involved in contentious cultural and political advocacy. The SPLC remains a significant player in labeling conservative organizations as “hate groups,” a practice that has drawn criticism for years. The superseding indictment keeps the pressure on the organization as the case moves toward trial.