Georgia already ran. Castro already ran. San Diegoโs twelve already ran. This is Culver City money.
Department of Justice, Wednesday, Sept. 16, Central District of California: two of three defendants charged in separate homelessness fraud cases were arrested, including a founder of a Culver City nonprofit who allegedly misappropriated more than $7.5 million in taxpayer funds and used money for commercial real estate and to finance a nightclub and adjacent bingo hall. An arrest is not a verdict. All defendants are presumed innocent.
Michael Young, 46, Baldwin Hills, a founder of Home At Last. Charged by complaint with wire fraud, a felony with a statutory maximum 20 years if convicted. Through contracts with LAHSA and other public entities he received more than $118 million from LAHSA, the City and County of Los Angeles, and HUD, the complaint says. LAHSA alone paid HAL over $75 million. Prosecutors: sham vendors, fake bids, forged signatures, fraudulent invoices. More than $1 million to open and operate Six Seven Five Lounge, a high-end restaurant and nightclub in Inglewood. Assistant Attorney General Colin M. McDonald said Young, through Home at Last, received more than $100 million and misappropriated more than $12 million. The complaintโs sham-vendor figure is $7.5 million. We will keep both numbers labeled. LAHSA cancelled HAL contracts in June 2026.
Donye Mitchell, 55, also โDanya Mitchell,โ of Orange, CEO of The Big Blue Umbrella. Charged with wire fraud, same 20-year ceiling. Fugitive. Prosecutors: fraudulently awarded more than $1.2 million from a county-funded nonprofit, Amity Foundation. After about $315,000 went out, Amity terminated the contract in May 2025. Alleged personal spending included inflated salary, bail, credit-card debt, rent, and PlayStation charges. A PlayStation line is an allegation in a complaint.
Lakiya Malone, 48, South Los Angeles, an SSG employee, arrested on a 21-count indictment: more than $180,000 in alleged bribes and kickbacks from Alexander Soofer, executive director of Abundant Blessings. Ghost participants, fake welcome letters, forged sign-in sheets, the indictment says. Malone: up to 20 years per wire-fraud count, 10 per bribery count, five on conspiracy, if convicted. Ceilings are not sentences.
Soofer has agreed to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud and one count of money laundering. Plea agreement: he obtained $23 million in public money intended to combat homelessness, pocketing at least $2 million. He is expected to plead in the coming weeks. An agreement to plead is not a completed plea and not a sentence. FBI, IRS-CI, and HUD-OIG are investigating.
What this means for you
If you needed Georgiaโs five, that file exists. If you needed convictions, you do not have them. If Mitchellโs whereabouts were the question, DOJ still says fugitive. If this file is too heavy, 988.
Bottom line: Charged. $7.5 million alleged. One fugitive. Not convicted.
GLHR NEWS explains the news. Not investment, tax, or trading advice. Do your own work before you act.
