A former top Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) official was arrested on charges Wednesday as federal prosecutors unveiled sweeping new allegations that donated money was allegedly secretly funneled to extremists and used for activities including recruiting members, staging rallies and buying materials for Ku Klux Klan robes and cross burnings.
Heidi Beirich, 59, of Palm Springs, California, was charged alongside the SPLC with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to submit false statements to a federally insured bank.
The second superseding indictment also charges Beirich with a conspiracy to commit concealed money laundering. Beirich was served with an arrest warrant Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Alabama.
Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the arrest during a news conference Wednesday in Washington, D.C., and said the federal investigation remains ongoing.
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"I think, as alleged in the indictment, this individual participated in the scheme as alleged," Blanche said. "I believe she was part of the effort to open bank accounts and complete fictitious companies names and make payments that to individuals for reasons that were not, that were not accurate as described."
FBI Director Kash Patel also weighed in on the news via X, writing that Beirich was at the "center" of the bureau's ongoing investigation.
"As alleged, Heidi Beirich was at the center of our ongoing investigation into SPLC and their previously alleged criminal activity - where SPLC knowingly misled donors, who believed their money was being used to dismantle violent extremist organizations - when in fact, part of those donations were instead being used to pay senior leadership within those extremist groups," Patel wrote.
The 26-page indictment obtained by Fox News Digital alleges the SPLC secretly funneled at least $4.1 million in tax-exempt donor funds between 2007 and 2023 through bank accounts supposedly belonging to businesses unaffiliated with the organization. Prosecutors allege the money paid "field sources" who were leading or affiliated with violent extremist organizations.
Prosecutors allege donor money was used to attend and host extremist rallies, recruit members, grow and create extremist chapters, publish extremist literature and buy materials for KKK robes, hoods and cross burnings. The indictment also alleges two KKK members who wanted out of the movement were encouraged by the SPLC to remain and offered monthly payments and expenses.
One of the most explosive allegations centers on a source identified as "F-9," whom prosecutors say infiltrated the neo-Nazi National Alliance and received more than $1.2 million from the SPLC during the period covered by the indictment. Prosecutors allege Beirich oversaw payments to F-9 while also having a romantic relationship with him, with the pair sharing a home and two bank accounts.
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Between 2015 and 2021, approximately $140,000 in donor money flowed from the SPLC's operating account through a "Tech Writers" account and ultimately into joint bank accounts held by Beirich and F-9, prosecutors allege. The indictment says the money accounted for approximately 66% of all funds deposited into their joint accounts and alleges Beirich used donor money to pay the couple's personal living expenses.
The indictment also alleges F-9 broke into an extremist organization's headquarters in 2014 and stole approximately 25 boxes of documents. Prosecutors allege that, with Beirich's knowledge, donor money was used to copy the stolen material before it was returned and that Beirich used the copies as the basis for an SPLC "Hatewatch" story. The indictment alleges Beirich later paid another source approximately $6,000 in donor money to then falsely take responsibility for the burglary.
"The indictment unsealed today reflects the continued work of federal investigators and prosecutors in examining this alleged scheme," U.S. Attorney Thomas Govan said. "We look forward to presenting the evidence in court and allowing the judicial process to determine the facts and the defendants’ responsibility for the alleged crimes."
Beirich is expected in federal court in Riverside, Calif., Wednesday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. PT, sources tell Fox News.
The SPLC has previously denied wrongdoing and moved to dismiss the federal case. An indictment contains allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
"Taking on violent hate and extremist groups is among the most dangerous work there is, and we believe it is also among the most important work we do. The actions taken by the DOJ will not shake our resolve," the SPLC said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "We remain steadfast in our fight for justice and in our commitment to ensuring the promise of the Civil Rights movement becomes a reality for all. We are confident in our position and look forward to presenting the evidence and making our case in court."
Fox News Digital's Asra Nomani, and Fox News' David Spunt and Bill Mears contributed to this report.
