Federal authorities arrested the executive director of a South Los
Angeles-based charity on Friday on charges that he orchestrated a
massive $23 million fraud scheme, siphoning taxpayer funds intended for
the city’s homeless population to bankroll a lifestyle of luxury.
Alexander Soofer, 42, the head of the Hyde Park-based nonprofit
Abundant Blessings, was taken into custody at his Westwood home by
federal agents.
Prosecutors say that while Soofer claimed to be housing and feeding
hundreds of vulnerable residents, he was instead treating public funds
as his “personal piggybank,” spending millions on a $7 million mansion,
private jets and high-end designer goods.
According to the criminal complaint, Soofer’s charity received more
than $23 million between 2018 and 2025 through contracts with the Los
Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) and other partner
organizations. In exchange, Abundant Blessings was tasked with providing
housing and three nutritious, balanced meals a day for over 600
participants.
Investigators also painted a much grimmer picture of the reality at Soofer’s sites.
The Unhealthy, Cheap Food: While billing the city
for healthy meals, site visits by investigators revealed that residents
were only being served ramen noodles, canned beans and breakfast bars.
The Phony ‘Board of Directors’: When questioned
about oversight, Soofer allegedly claimed his board of directors
approved his spending. Federal agents later discovered the board was
entirely fabricated. Some members did not exist, while others had never
heard of Soofer or his charity.
Fake Invoices: Prosecutors say Soofer used the
logos and addresses of legitimate companies to create fake invoices,
making it appear he was paying third-party vendors for services he was
actually pocketing the money for.
While the city’s most vulnerable were left with meager rations,
prosecutors allege Soofer diverted at least $10 million for personal
use. The list of expenditures outlined by the Department of Justice
includes:
A $7 million home in the upscale Westwood neighborhood and a $475,000 vacation property in Greece.
Private jet charters and stays at five-star resorts, including the
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea — the luxury destination famously
featured in the first season of the HBO show “The White Lotus.”
Thousands of dollars spent on designers like Hermès and Chanel, including “$1,250 calfskin loafers and $910 sandals.”
A $125,000 Range Rover, which was seized by federal agents during Friday’s arrest.
“This money should have gone to those in need; instead, it lined the
pockets of an individual subsidizing a lavish lifestyle,” said First
Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli during a press conference.
He is charged with wire fraud, which carries a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
Additionally, L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced
11 felony counts of conflict of interest, forgery and offering false
evidence. If convicted on these state charges, Soofer faces an
additional 17 years.
L.A. Democrat Mayor Karen Bass later issued a statement calling the
allegations “despicable” while emphasizing a “zero tolerance” policy for
fraud within the city’s homelessness programs.
“Today we learned that a private developer has been arrested and
charged in a complex scheme to defraud lenders across Los Angeles and
Ventura Counties. One of the alleged fraudulent schemes involved real
estate in West L.A. that was acquired to provide housing for elderly
Angelenos experiencing homelessness. My administration has zero
tolerance for corruption – period. We’re working with the U.S.
Attorney’s office to ensure that anyone who engages in fraud against the
city will face the full force of the law and my administration’s
unwavering commitment to accountability.”
Soofer made his initial court appearance on Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana.
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