‘Fraud, waste and abuse’: Man arrested for stealing millions in taxpayer funds from homelessness program

This is just the tip of the fraud iceberg in California.

A Los Angeles man was arrested for stealing $23 million in taxpayer money from a program intended to combat homelessness.

According to federal prosecutors, Alexander Soofer, 42, executive director of Abundant Blessings, was charged with wire fraud.

Between 2018 and 2025, Soofer pocketed millions of dollars and used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle.

He used the stolen funds to purchase a $7 million home, a Range Rover, send his children to private school and buy other luxury items.

“California is the poster child of rampant fraud, waste, and abuse of tax dollars,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “The state has facilitated the spending of billions of dollars to combat homelessness, with little to show for it and almost no oversight. Thankfully, the federal government has begun auditing California’s spending and today’s is just one example of how fraudsters have swindled millions of dollars from tax papers. This money should have gone to those in need, instead in lines the pockets of individuals subsidizing their lavish lifestyle.”

More from First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli:

Alexander Soofer, 42, of Westwood, the executive director of the charity Abundant Blessings, was arrested this morning on a federal criminal complaint charging him with wire fraud — a felony punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.

Soofer is accused of lining his pockets with millions of taxpayer dollars intended to combat the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. Instead, he allegedly used the money to purchase a $7 million home, took luxury trips across the United States, and paid for his children’s private school tuition, among other luxury items.

He will make his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon. Mr. Soofer is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

For too long, California has left the spigot of taxpayer dollars on and has not provided anywhere near enough oversight of how the money is being spent.

Thankfully, the federal government is stepping in to enforce the law. We are demanding accountability — something the state’s leaders for years have failed to do.

This is the third significant arrest from our Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force — and we’re just getting started.

Alexander Soofer, 42, of Westwood, the executive director of the charity Abundant Blessings, was arrested this morning on a federal criminal complaint charging him with wire fraud — a felony punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.

Soofer is accused of lining his pockets… pic.twitter.com/fd0uk3YWFc

— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) January 23, 2026