FBI raids South Los Angeles home of charity worker accused of homeless-service fraud

Agents from the FBI and the Homeless Fraud and Corruption Task Force raided the South Los Angeles home of 48-year-old charity worker Lakiya Malone before dawn, arresting her on a 21-count federal indictment. Prosecutors allege Malone accepted more than $180,000 in bribes and kickbacks from Alexander Soofer, the executive director of the nonprofit Abundant Blessings, by steering both real and fabricated "ghost" clients to the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority.

Payments were disguised as consulting fees to Malone’s entity, Grateful Hearts Realty & Consulting, and were linked to the volume of referrals she provided. Soofer is separately charged with stealing $23 million in public funds, has agreed to plead guilty, and is expected to forfeit the illicit proceeds. The investigation also targets two additional homeless-service executives suspected of misusing $12 million on non-housing expenses. Los Angeles officials say the task force will continue pursuing those who enable the fraud, not just the direct perpetrators.