The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office on Thursday charged a nonprofit CEO with defrauding the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority of more than $5 million,
Abundant Blessings CEO Alexander Soofer allegedly used $2 million of the allegedly illegal funds toward his own properties or was accounted for through fraudulent invoices between 2022 and 2024.
“Self-dealing government funds intended for food and housing for homeless residents of LA County, including families and children, is despicable,” LA County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said in a statement. “The defendant called his company ‘Abundant Blessings,’ but the only abundant blessings he gave were to himself. My office will ensure anyone who thinks they can defraud the government will be brought to justice.”
Soofer, 42, is charged with 11 felony counts of conflict of interest, two felony counts of offering false evidence and five felony counts of forgery in connection with millions of dollars in contracts involving LAHSA and Abundant Blessings, authorities said.
The 11 conflict of interest charges stem from contracts between Abundant Blessings and LAHSA that expressly stated Soofer could not own the properties used to house homeless residents or subcontract with himself or family members with a financial interest in the properties or companies providing a service, according to prosecutors.
The LAHSA funds in question were for Youth Homelessness, Bridge Housing, Winter Shelter, Home Safe, Inside Safe and other programs, according to the DA’s office. Soofer also allegedly failed to provide shelter and nutritious meals required under the contract terms.
“The defendant allegedly betrayed the public trust, and I assure Mr. Soofer that unlike the homeless he allegedly stole from, he will have shelter and get three nutritious meals a day in prison,” Hochman said.
On June 30, 2024, Soofer allegedly provided fake subcontractor invoices to LAHSA with the names of real companies including Revolution Kitchen and Armed Elite Services, according to prosecutors.
Soofer faces 17 years, 6 months in custody if convicted.
