Charity Head Allegedly Stole Taxpayer Funds Meant For Homeless To Fund Flashy Lifestyle

Officials arrested and charged the head of a California homeless charity Friday with wire fraud after he allegedly stole taxpayer funds meant to help the homeless to pay for his lavish lifestyle.

Prosecutors accused Alexander Soofer, 42, of fraudulently obtaining $23 million in taxpayer funds and keeping at least $10 million of it, according to a U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of California press release. Soofer allegedly bought a $7 million house in Los Angeles with the money as well as a $125,000 Range Rover. He also paid for his kids’ private school tuition, private jet flights and nights at luxury hotels, the DOJ alleged.

Soofer is the director of Abundant Blessings, according to an affidavit in the criminal complaint. Abundant Blessings is a non-profit organization that offers short-term and long-term housing to the homeless, according to its LinkedIn page. Using the charity, Soofer secured a Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) contract to offer housing to homeless and at-risk individuals, the affidavit read.

Soofer obtained multiple LAHSA contracts to offer housing services to over 600 homeless individuals across South Los Angeles by July 2023, according to the complaint.

Out of the $23 million Soofer received from 2018 to 2025, over $5 million came directly from the LAHSA, while the other $17 million came through the non-profit Special Service for Groups, Inc, officials said.

Soofer allegedly lied about how he was using the funds he received and supposed payments to third-party vendors contracted to help provide housing. In some instances, Soofer made fabricated and fake invoices to cover up the fraud, according to complaint.

Soofer also allegedly failed to adequately feed and house homeless individuals at the sites he was responsible for.

City investigators publicly shared their concerns in July 2025 over claims that homeless individuals at the sites were being fed amen noodles, canned beans and breakfast bars via a heated microwave, KTLA reported. A LAHSA investigator also allegedly learned that members who supposedly served on the board of Soofer’s charity either did not exist or did not know him or the organization. (RELATED: Small Town Threatens Farmer With Thousands In Fines Every Day Over Maple Tree Dispute)

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli reacted to Soofer’s arrest in a statement, according to the press release. “California is the poster child of rampant fraud, waste, and abuse of tax dollars,” he said.

“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 taxpayers. This money should have gone to those in need, instead [it] [sic] lines the pockets of individuals subsidizing their lavish lifestyle,” he continued.

If found guilty, Soofer faces up to 20 years behind bars.