California fraudsters purchased breast implants together with your tax funds

They had been supposed to guard California’s most susceptible residents.

However these fraudsters allegedly stole hundreds of thousands from taxpayers and blew the funds on insane spending sprees for fancy homes, flash vehicles, non-public jets — and even breast implants.

In San Diego, former nonprofit govt Amy Knox is accused of stealing greater than $130,000 earmarked to combat fentanyl overdoses.

Prosecutors say a minimum of $30,000 went straight into beauty procedures together with a boob job, arm and thigh tweaks and a tummy tuck.

Authorities allege the identical pot of money additionally paid for journeys to Hawaii and Disneyland, purebred canines and on a regular basis private bills, all whereas the funding was supposed to maintain folks alive amid a lethal overdose disaster.

In LA, federal prosecutors say Alexander Soofer, who ran a nonprofit contracted to accommodate tons of of homeless residents, is tied to roughly $23 million in public funding.

Greater than $10 million of it, the Justice Division alleges, was diverted for private use.

A $7 million dwelling in Westwood. A $125,000 Vary Rover. Personal college tuition. Personal jet journey. Luxurious resort stays. Even a trip property in Greece.

All whereas Soofer’s group was tasked with housing greater than 600 folks experiencing homelessness.

Final October federal brokers arrested Cody Holmes, the 31-year-old former CFO of Shangri-La Industries, a downtown Los Angeles developer who was speculated to be offering housing for homeless folks in Southern California.

Holmes, who pleaded not responsible, is accused of embezzling greater than $2 million in taxpayer funds slated for homeless housing building to host extravagant events; a $46,000-per-month Beverly Hills mansion; non-public jet journey; leases of unique vehicles; high-end purses totaling $128,000; a $35,000 diamond watch; and 20 VIP passes for the 2023 Coachella Music and Arts Pageant.

In one other high-profile case, Dana Williamson, as soon as a high aide to Gavin Newsom, was indicted final yr on fraud expenses tied to greater than $1.7 million in alleged bogus enterprise bills.

Prosecutors say the spending spree included a $15,000 Chanel purse, a chartered non-public jet and a $156,000 birthday blowout in Mexico.

Up north in San Francisco, Gwendolyn Westbrook, who was CEO of United Council of Human Providers, allegedly grifted greater than $1.2 million in public funds, after the group obtained tens of hundreds of thousands in authorities grants over the previous 20 years.

She allegedly bragged to workers that she’d bought a Tesla, a Jeep Renegade and an Infiniti SUV for herself and buddies — and was identified to drive round with a “trunk stuffed with high-priced jewellery,” in line with the San Francisco Customary.

Westbrook paid for members of the family’ weddings, fertility remedies and different bills, in line with a authorized criticism.

“Gwendolyn Westbrook enriched herself and misappropriated hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in public funding meant to learn the neighborhood,” David Chiu, San Francisco metropolis legal professional who investigated Westbrook’s actions, stated in a press release.

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