News
Exclusive | Feds smash multi-million dollar homeless scheme as charity worker with shady list of ‘ghost clients’ dragged from her home
A charity worker who allegedly took massive bribes in exchange for pouring millions of taxpayer dollars into the pockets of a corrupt homeless service bigwig was busted by the feds in a sweeping op…
Brief
Primary Menu Sections US News Metro Long Island Politics World News Page Six Sports NFL MLB Olympics NBA NHL College Football College Basketball WNBA Post Sports+ Sports Betting Business Opinion Entertainment TV Movies Music Celebrities Awards Theater Shopping Lifestyle Weird But True Sex & Relationships Viral Trends Human Interest Parenting Fashion & Beauty Food & Drink Travel Health Wellness Fitness Health Care Medicine Men’s Health Women’s Health Mental Health Nutrition Real Estate Alexa Media Tech Science Space Environment Wildlife Archaeology Astrology Video Photos Pod Force One NY POSTcast Today’s Paper Covers Columnists Horoscopes Crosswords & Games Sports Odds Podcasts Careers Email Newsletters Official Store Home Delivery Tips Search Email New York Post Switch between CA and NY editions here. Got it Edition CA NY Open Metro navigation US News US News Metro Long Island Politics World News US News Metro Long Island Politics World News Search Search Metro exclusive Feds smash multi-million dollar homeless scheme as charity worker with shady list of ‘ghost clients’ dragged from her home By Ben Chapman Published Sep. 16, 2026, 9:57 a.m. ET See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The California Post on Google A charity worker who allegedly took massive bribes in exchange for pouring millions of taxpayer dollars into the pockets of a corrupt homeless service bigwig was busted by the feds in a sweeping operation that targeted infamous homeless services fraud in that’s crippling Los Angeles. FBI agents in a dramatic raid swarmed the South Los Angeles home of Lakiya Malone before dawn, pounding on her door and yelling for her to “come out!” As the SSG worker emerged, she was placed in handcuffs by men in Kevlar vests, while others trained rifles on her house. FBI agents collared Malone, 48, more than seven months after the federal government charged charity leader Alexander Soofer, 42, with stealing $23 million in public funds meant for the needy. FBI agents in a dramatic raid swarmed the South Los Angeles home of Lakiya Malone before dawn, pounding on her door and yelling for her to “come out!” And while agents stuffed her into a silver sedan, other FBI men were hot on the trail of two other suspects caught up in a sweeping operation meant to root out fraud at the Los Angeles Homless Services Authority. Explore More Police department shut down for failing to provide ‘public benefit’ after arresting mom over dirty water Facebook post Wealthy NYC ‘Roblox’ widow claims male escort scammed her out of $6M: ‘Svengali-like control’ Toxicology results for ‘dance mom’ and daughter, 11, revealed after hotel murder-suicide Top Los Angeles prosecutor Bill Essayli said the Homeless Fraud and Corruption Task Force he’s leading will stop at nothing to root out massive fraud at the lead agency that coordinates housing and social services for the homeless in Los Angeles County. “We’re working our way up the chain. We’re getting to those who are enabling the fraud, and not just the fraudsters themselves.” he told the California Post. “The money went to enrich these fraudsters directly.” “That’s where the taxpayer’s money is going — and it’s not going to the homeless,” he added. Plainclothes FBI agents speak to people on 5th and Towne Ave. in Skid Row, Los Angeles, in June. Andy Johnstone for CA Post The LAHSA has had recurring problems with corruption and late payments to nonprofit providers – things the Trump administration has named as its motivation for suspending federal funds to the joint city-county agency. Malone is part of the problem, according to the feds. She is charged in a 21-count federal indictment that accuses her of taking more than $180,000 in bribes and kickbacks from Soofer, the executive director of the homeless services nonprofit Abundant Blessings, who is separately charged in a massive fraud scheme and has agreed to plead guilty. In exchange for the bribes and kickbacks, Malone allegedly provided priority referrals of homeless housing participants to Soofer’s organization, including “ghost” participants who never lived at the sites. According to the indictment, Soofer paid her through checks made out to her and an entity she controlled, Grateful Hearts Realty & Consulting, disguising the payments as consulting fees. In reality, the payments were tied to the number of referrals Malone sent and to “ghost clients” whose files she helped fabricate with fake welcome letters, forged sign in sheets, and falsified eligibility forms. Soofer allegedly received more than $17 million from SSG during the scheme, inflated substantially by these fraudulent referrals. Malone faces up to 20 years per wire fraud count, 10 years per bribery count, and five years on a conspiracy charge. Soofer Soofer has agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. He admitted in a plea agreement to his role in the bribery scheme with Malone. He further admitted that he obtained $23 million in public money intended to combat homelessness, at least some of which he admits he obtained through fraud, pocketing at least $2 million in taxpayer money for his own personal enrichment and for businesses unrelated to homeless housing. Soofer has agreed to forfeit his ill-gotten gains to the U.S. government and is expected to plead guilty to the felony charges in the coming weeks. Federal agents on Wednesday also sought the capture of two other corrupt homeless services execs, including one who allegedly blew $12 million in taxpayer cash meant for the homeless on lavish toys including a bingo hall and a nightclub. Filed under california 9/16/26 Read Next Dominick Bianchi's family releases heartbreaking obituary ... Trending Now on NYPost.com This story has been shared 62,329 times. 62,329 Wealthy NYC ‘Roblox’ widow claims male escort scammed her out of $6M: ‘Svengali-like control’ This story has been shared 56,442 times. 56,442 Police department shut down for failing to provide ‘public benefit’ after arresting mom over dirty water Facebook post This story has been shared 53,013 times. 53,013 Toxicology results for ‘dance mom’ and daughter, 11, revealed after hotel murder-suicide Most Commented Join the conversation This story has 2.1K comments. 2.1K Palestinian flag-waving idiot identified after charging onto field at Yankee Stadium on 9/11 anniversary This story has 2K comments. 2K Ilhan Omar ‘married her brother’ and could be deported: DHS secretary This story has 1.6K comments. 1.6K Obama and the Dems are suspiciously sounding the ‘AI apocalypse’ alarm — just in time for the midterms Now on Page Six ESPN’s Pat McAfee shares insider details from Taylor Swift and Tom Cruise’s Chiefs suite moment Hayden Panettiere’s rep addresses report about fentanyl-laced oxycodone pill ‘RHONY’ recap: Carole storms out after Jessel’s brash Carolyn Bessette, JFK Jr. questions See All Columnists Charles Gasparino White House may impose ‘limited safeguards’ on AI to prevent apocalypse, mass extinction: source Mike Vaccaro In wake of 9/11 tragedy, Bobby Valentine forged indelible bond with a victim’s family Rikki Schlott NYC’s AI in schools policy is first step in prying children away from the grips of Big Tech — it may come just in time See All Columnists More Stories Page Six Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce go to extreme measures to keep nosy neighbors away from new Ohio mansion Decider Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Agatha Christie’s Tommy & Tuppence’ On BritBox, A Modern Take On The Mystery Master’s Flirty Young Detectives NYPost Wealthy NYC ‘Roblox’ widow claims male escort scammed her out of $6M: ‘Svengali-like control’ Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Email YouTube TikTok Snapchat Sections & Features US News Metro World News Sports Sports Betting Business Opinion Entertainment Fashion & Beauty Shopping Lifestyle Real Estate Media Tech Science Health Travel Astrology Video Photos Alexa Covers Horoscopes Sports Odds Podcasts Crosswords & Games Columnists Classifieds Post Sports+ Subscribe Articles Manage Newsletters & Store Email Newsletters NY Post Official Store Home Delivery Subscribe Manage Subscription Delivery Help Help/Support About New York Post Editorial Standards New York Post Awards & Recognition Customer Service Apps Help Community Guidelines Contact Us Tips Newsroom Letters to the Editor Licensing & Reprints Careers Vulnerability Disclosure Program Apps iPhone App iPad App Android Phone Android Tablet Advertise Media Kit Contact © 2026 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved Terms of Use Subscription Terms Privacy Notice Sitemap Your California Privacy Rights Do Not Sell My Personal Information
Comments
No comments yet.
Sign in to comment.