Citizenship News
A man was arrested Friday on federal wire fraud charges for allegedly stealing more than 23 million U.S. dollars in public funds intended to address homelessness in Los Angeles and using millions of dollars to finance a lavish personal lifestyle, authorities said.
Alexander Soofer, 42, executive director of the charity Abundant Blessings, is accused of diverting taxpayer money for luxury travel, designer shopping, private school tuition and real estate purchases, including a vacation property in Greece.
He was taken into custody Friday and made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana.
If convicted, he will face up to 20 years in prison. Federal prosecutors said Abundant Blessings received more than 23 million dollars in homelessness funding between 2018 and 2025. More than 5 million dollars came directly from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, while over 17 million dollars flowed through another nonprofit, Special Service for Groups Inc. Abundant Blessings was contracted to provide housing and supportive services for more than 600 people experiencing homelessness across multiple sites in South Los Angeles.
Investigators said conditions at some Soofer-operated sites fell far short of contractual obligations.
Investigators alleged Soofer systematically misrepresented how public funds were spent and diverted them for personal use. According to a press release by the U.S. Department of Justice, he fabricated bank statements, invoices and other financial documents to conceal transfers of public money into his personal accounts.
“He was living the high life while people he was meant to serve were suffering on the streets with no shelter and no food,” Bill Essayli, First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said at a Friday news conference.
“Instead of providing three nutritious meals a day, what he was providing was ramen noodles and a microwave — and pocketing the rest of the money.”
Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, accused Soofer of placing personal greed above the needs of the city’s most vulnerable residents. Tyler Hatcher, special agent in charge of IRS Criminal Investigation Los Angeles Field Office, said the case underscored law enforcement’s commitment to holding accountable those who misuse taxpayer dollars for self-enrichment.
LOS ANGELES, Jan. 24 (Xinhua)
