Federal prosecutors say the executive director secretly pocketed millions meant for homelessness services
Federal prosecutors arrested a Westwood man Thursday on allegations he siphoned millions of dollars from public programs meant to address homelessness in Los Angeles, including money authorities say he spent on a $7 million Westwood home, a Range Rover and other luxury travel and expenses.
Alexander Soofer, 42, is charged in a federal criminal complaint with wire fraud. He was taken into custody Thursday morning and was expected to make his initial appearance later in the day in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana.
Soofer is the executive director of Abundant Blessings, a Hyde Park-based charity that contracted with the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority to provide housing and supportive services for people who were homeless or at risk of homelessness, according to an affidavit filed with the complaint. By July 2023, the organization held multiple LAHSA-related contracts to serve more than 600 participants at several locations in South Los Angeles, the affidavit states.
Between 2018 and 2025, Soofer obtained more than $23 million in homeless-housing funding, prosecutors allege. More than $5 million came directly from LAHSA, and more than $17 million came through Special Service for Groups Inc., a nonprofit based in downtown Los Angeles.
Under the agreements, Soofer’s charity was responsible for securing lodging, either at sites it operated or through third-party providers such as hotels and motels, the affidavit says. The contracts also required three meals per day for participants, described in the agreements as healthy and balanced meals meeting nutritional needs.
Instead, authorities allege Soofer repeatedly misrepresented how the funds were spent, claiming the money was used solely to address homelessness while diverting millions of dollars for personal benefit. Investigators say he also falsely reported payments to vendors for housing services and took steps to conceal transfers into his personal bank accounts.
Prosecutors further allege Soofer arranged housing leases in a way that made it appear the charity was paying market-rate rent to outside landlords, when investigators say the payments were routed to Soofer himself and exceeded market rates.
To disguise the alleged scheme, Soofer is accused of creating fraudulent invoices, including documents that used the names, addresses and logos of legitimate companies to make vendor and rent payments appear valid.
When questioned by a LAHSA investigator about whether the charity’s board was aware of his spending, Soofer said it was, according to the affidavit. The investigator later determined the board was not legitimate, authorities allege, finding some listed members did not exist and others said they had never heard of Abundant Blessings or Soofer.
Investigators also say conditions at several sites did not match what the city and county had paid for. After complaints and billing discrepancies, officials conducted visits and found limited food offerings such as ramen noodles, canned beans and breakfast bars — far from the three meals per day required under the contracts, the affidavit states.
Prosecutors allege Soofer pocketed at least $10 million. They say he used public money for a down payment and renovations on his Westwood home, private school tuition for his children, luxury spending in Las Vegas, private jet travel and stays at high-end resorts across the country, from Hawaii to Florida. Authorities also allege he sent about $475,000 to a Greek property developer to buy a vacation property in Greece.
If convicted, Soofer faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
The FBI, IRS Criminal Investigation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General are investigating. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kerry L. Quinn and Kevin B. Reidy of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting the case.
