Overview
- Alexander Soofer, 42, executive director of Abundant Blessings, was arrested on a federal wire-fraud complaint and made an initial court appearance in Santa Ana with bond set at $1.5 million and a Feb. 26 hearing scheduled.
- Authorities say the nonprofit received more than $23 million from 2018 to 2025 through LAHSA and pass-through funding, with contracts to house over 600 participants and provide three nutritious meals daily.
- Investigators allege Soofer used public funds for a $7 million Westwood home, a $475,000 Greece property, private jet travel, luxury hotels, designer purchases, and a $125,000 Range Rover.
- Site visits reported residents were given ramen, canned beans, and breakfast bars, while prosecutors say Soofer concealed the scheme with fabricated invoices, a fake board, and self-dealing above-market rents.
- Soofer faces up to 20 years on the federal charge and additional potential state prison time on parallel felony counts, as the DOJ’s Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force continues its probe; LAHSA ended the nonprofit’s contracts in October 2024 after audits.