It starts when the gatekeepers abandon the gate.
Nonprofit CEO Accused of Misusing Public Funds
Alexander Soofer, CEO of Abundant Blessings, awaits trial in Los Angeles on state and federal accusations of siphoning public money for a $7 million house, extravagant travel, luxury apparel and five‑star hotel stays.
Auditors from the Los Angeles City Controller’s office demanded proof of the nonprofit’s homeless services after a site visit, prompting a criminal investigation that began with a single request: show me.
Before receiving any taxpayer funds, Soofer applied to LAHSA as a homeless services provider; The Federalist obtained the applications through the California Public Records Act and released them last week.
Public records show Soofer owns a frozen‑yogurt franchise in Santa Monica and holds a business license bearing his name, with no documented social‑service background.
To convince LAHSA of his experience, Soofer attached a series of “letters of commitment” promising funding from corporations and foundations, including alleged donations from CVS Health, Wells Fargo, the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation and the IKEA Foundation.
CVS Health spokesman Ethan Slavin denied any such letter or donation, stating the company has no record of a Katheryn Nguyen on staff or any contribution to Abundant Blessings.
Wells Fargo also denied any funding relationship, saying the bank has no active financial activity with the nonprofit.
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation’s online grant database shows no record of Abundant Blessings, as does the IKEA Foundation’s searchable recipient list.
American Airlines declined to comment on a letter submitted by Soofer, and its funding guidelines indicate the company typically supports large, well‑known charities and provides mileage certificates rather than direct cash to small nonprofits.
A federal complaint filed on Jan. 21, 2026 alleged that Soofer fabricated fake invoices, using real company names, addresses and logos to disguise misappropriated public funds.
Soofer maintains due‑process rights and a presumption of innocence, but the evidence suggests his nonprofit submitted applications containing falsified letters of commitment before any alleged fraud occurred.
The federal trial is set for Nov. 10, while state charges remain stalled as Soofer repeatedly requests a postponement of his preliminary hearing.
A U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson declined to comment on the case, and Soofer’s legal team has not responded to repeated inquiries.
The Los Angeles District Attorney’s office has not replied to requests for comment as of publication.
LAHSA was asked for a comment on its vetting process by Tuesday noon; an hour later the agency said it was preparing a statement, but no response was provided.
