Federal prosecutors announced Friday the arrest of Alexander Soofer, a South Los Angeles nonprofit executive accused of orchestrating a sweeping wire-fraud scheme that diverted more than $23 million in homelessness funds into a lavish personal lifestyle.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Soofer, 42, served as the head of Abundant Blessings, a Hyde Park–based charity contracted to provide housing and supportive services for unhoused residents across South Los Angeles between 2018 and 2025.
Instead, prosecutors allege Soofer siphoned off at least $10 million for personal use — including a $7 million home in Westwood, private jet travel, designer shopping, luxury vacations and a resort stay in Maui at a property made famous by HBO’s The White Lotus.
Ramen for the homeless, luxury for the boss
Court filings paint a stark contrast between Soofer’s spending and conditions at housing sites he managed. Despite contracts requiring three nutritious meals daily for more than 600 residents, investigators say some clients were routinely served instant ramen noodles, canned beans and microwave-heated breakfast bars.
In July 2025, city officials publicly raised concerns about a homelessness contractor serving mostly ramen — a practice Los Angeles City Controller Kenneth Mejia said violated contractual requirements and failed basic standards of care.
Soofer’s nonprofit worked under multiple agreements with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, commonly known as LAHSA. By mid-2023, prosecutors say those contracts covered more than 600 beds across several locations.
Fake invoices, phantom board members
Federal investigators allege Soofer attempted to conceal the scheme by submitting false and misleading invoices, sometimes using the names, logos and addresses of legitimate businesses to make fraudulent expenses appear real.
Authorities also say Soofer falsely claimed Abundant Blessings had an active board of directors. In reality, some listed members did not exist, while others told investigators they had never heard of the organization.
Between 2018 and 2025, prosecutors say Soofer received over $5 million directly from LAHSA and more than $17 million through another nonprofit, Special Service for Groups Inc.
Private jets, overseas property, seized Range Rover
According to the indictment, the alleged fraud funded:
Private jet flights and luxury travel in Las Vegas and Hawaii
Private school tuition for Soofer’s children
Major renovations to his Westwood residence
A $125,000 Range Rover, seized during his arrest
Roughly $475,000 wired to a Greek developer for a vacation property overseas
“This morning, we arrested this individual on a charge of wire fraud for siphoning taxpayer dollars into his personal accounts,” said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli during a downtown Los Angeles news conference.
Akil Davis, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, accused Soofer of placing “his own greed over decency and respect for the laws of our country.”
A broader reckoning
The case adds fuel to growing scrutiny over how billions of dollars in homelessness funding are distributed and monitored in Los Angeles — particularly as conditions on the streets continue to worsen despite record public spending.
Soofer remains in federal custody. If convicted, he faces significant prison time and the forfeiture of assets tied to the alleged fraud.