Gavin Newsom roasted as huge $23M homeless fraud investigation nabs suspect in LA: Zero vetting

California’s top federal prosecutor blasted Gov.Gavin Newsom Friday over a $23 million homeless services fraud scheme, saying the state handed out taxpayer dollars with “zero vetting and zero oversight.”“All you have done is hand out money to fraudsters and illegal immigrants,” Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S.

Attorney for the Central District of California, wrote on X.“Taxpaying citizens deserve better.”His response came after Newsom defended himself from criticism over the fraud, denying any wrongdoing in the state and insisting California enforces accountability.“Unlike Donald Trump, who pardons fraudsters, @CAGovernor Gavin Newsom demands anyone who steals taxpayer dollars be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Newsom’s official press account wrote on X.Earlier on Friday, federal authorities announced the arrest of Alexander Soofer, a Westwood man charged with fraudulently obtaining $23 million in public funds meant for homelessness programs and pocketing at least $10 million for personal luxuries, including a $7 million home, a Range Rover, private schooling, and private jet travel.“California is the poster child of rampant fraud, waste, and abuse of tax dollars,” Essayli said in a press release.

“The state has facilitated the spending of billions of dollars to combat homelessness, with little to show for it and almost no oversight.”LA Mayor Karen Bass called the alleged crime “despicable.”“It’s despicable that Mr.Soofer lied to the city and LAHSA for his personal gain and took advantage of taxpayer funds meant to help unhoused Angelenos across South Los Angeles,” she said.In April 2024, Essayli launched a task force to investigate corruption in California, with a focus on homeless services.

It has already led to federal charges against two men accused of exploiting real estate projects to profit from the state’s homelessness system.Soofer was released on $1.5 million bond....