Federal authorities arrested two defendants and charged a third in separate cases alleging misuse of taxpayer money intended for homelessness programs in the Los Angeles region.
One case alleges that the founder of a Culver City nonprofit misappropriated more than $7.5 million and used some of the money for commercial real estate and construction of a nightclub and bingo hall. The investigations are being handled by a federal homelessness fraud and corruption task force.
The charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Prosecutors said the cases are part of a wider effort to examine fraud, waste and abuse in publicly funded homelessness programs.