F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli

We are announcing a $5,000 reward for tips leading to the successful prosecution of defendants who have violated the federal Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act. This law criminalizes animal abuse in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce and making “animal crush” videos that depict obscene animal abuse. Those with evidence against anyone suspected of breaking this law must email the FBI at: LA-AnimalCrimesTipline@ic.fbi.gov Under federal law, animal abuse is defined as serious bodily injury. Lesser abuse and negligence are the responsibility of local law enforcement. Helpful tips include specific evidence: photographs, videos, dates, times, locations, and description of who is committing these crimes. We cannot prosecute any case unless we know the suspect.

This is what’s wrong with homeless spending in Los Angeles. Taxpayers pay for drug paraphernalia (needles/pipes) handed out by city-contracted NGOs while also paying the fire department to respond to drug ODs on the same corner. Los Angeles city and county are exacerbating the homeless/drug crisis with its failed “harm reduction” policies. Join: @USAtty_Essayli✅

President Trump has made clear that we will not allow open air drug markets in American cities. Here’s an inside look at our operation to combat the notorious MacArthur Park from violent gangs and drug distribution. We will continue these operations with @DEALOSANGELES and @LAPDHQ until the park is safe again for families to enjoy. Join: @USAtty_Essayli✅

Today, under the leadership of @VP Vance and @DAGToddBlanche, we are announcing the 2026 National Health Care Fraud Takedown involving 455 defendants charged in connection with $6.5+ BILLION in alleged fraud. One person arrested by @FBILosAngeles in the Central District of California was Jeannie Choi, 57, of Torrance. She is charged along with two other defendants—Oren David Shachar, 59, of Van Nuys, and Abraham Shin, 66, of Corona—with a hospice fraud scheme that caused Medicare to pay nearly $27 million in fraudulent claims. Shachar allegedly exploited deceased Medicare beneficiaries by collecting their personal health data and medical records through meetings with surviving relatives. He then directed staff to use those identities to create false, backdated hospice records claiming evaluations and terminal certifications that never occurred. Shachar paid Choi and Shin between $1,000 and $3,000 for each deceased beneficiary fraudulently enrolled in hospice care. Shachar and Shin have pleaded not guilty and have a trial scheduled for August 11. Choi is expected to make her initial appearance and be arraigned today in Los Angeles federal court. Public health programs intended to help the elderly and sick are being undermined by fraudsters, threatening the financial stability of these programs for all Americans. We are committed to rooting out the rampant fraud that has plagued our institutions for too long. Join: @USAtty_Essayli✅

MacArthur Park Update #5 Last night, @DEALOSANGELES and @LAPDHQ conducted a joint narcotics operation in the MacArthur Park area and it sent a clear message: drug dealers are not welcome in our communities. Six individuals were arrested on suspicion of narcotics sales. Federal and state laws were enforced. This is part of a sustained, coordinated effort to dismantle the open-air drug markets that have plagued Los Angeles for too long. I want to commend our federal agents and the men and women of LAPD for their professionalism and dedication. The people of Los Angeles deserve safe parks, safe streets, and safe neighborhoods. We are delivering on that promise. Law and order is being restored in Los Angeles. Join: @USAtty_Essayli✅

The Trump Administration is committed to accountability and results for taxpayers when it comes to homelessness funding. We will continue to investigate and prosecute anyone we believe fraudulently obtained public funds intended to house the homeless. Last year I created the Homeless Fraud and Corruption Task Force, which has already made significant arrests in this space. One such case was against Alexander Soofer, 42, of Westwood, the executive director of the Hyde Park–based charity Abundant Blessings, who is accused of misusing more than $10 million in homeless housing funds. Between 2018 and 2025, his organization received more than $23 million to provide housing and meals for hundreds of vulnerable Angelenos. Instead, he allegedly fabricated invoices, lied about vendor payments, created a fake board, and failed to offer adequate food or services to participants. While the City of Los Angeles and LAHSA paid for safe shelter and three nutritious meals a day, residents got little more than ramen and canned beans. Meanwhile, Soofer allegedly diverted public money for personal luxuries, including a $7 million Westwood home, private school tuition, luxury travel, and a property in Greece. The betrayal of public trust at the expense of L.A.’s most vulnerable is shameful and illegal. The federal government will no longer bankroll incompetence and criminality at the expense of taxpayers and those in need. Join: @USAtty_Essayli✅

Mahender Makhijani, 44, a lawful permanent resident from India living in Corona del Mar, was arrested this morning on a federal criminal complaint charging him with defrauding a bank out of nearly $100 million. Makhijani controlled Cantor Group V LLC, a Newport Beach-based company that had a lending agreement requiring it to pledge only first-lien real estate loans to the victim bank. Makhijani falsified title policies from September 2024 to April 2025 to make it appear Cantor held first-lien positions when other creditors were ahead. Makhijani and a subordinate forged documents in Adobe, altered metadata, and submitted the falsified records to the victim bank, while also providing misleading explanations during calls and in spreadsheets. If convicted, Makhijani faces a statutory maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison. He is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Santa Ana, California. All defendants are presumed innocent until convicted in court. Our nation’s economy and welfare depend on a healthy banking system. When lenders are deceived, it has downstream effects on consumers and businesses. Join: @USAtty_Essayli✅

California Is Blocking a Federal Audit of Its Voter Rolls California allows first-time voters to register using forms of ID that most Americans would find surprising, including: -Gym membership card -Employer ID card -Credit or debit card -Prescription drug label -Insurance card (California provides free health coverage to undocumented immigrants) Full list: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/hava-id-standards This is permitted when a voter fails to provide a Social Security number or driver’s license at registration. Our office believes this policy deserves a closer look. We also have serious concerns about how California maintains its voter rolls. There are open questions about whether the state is promptly removing deceased voters, people who have moved, and individuals convicted of disqualifying felonies. On top of that, California allows third parties to collect and turn in ballots on voters’ behalf (a practice known as ballot harvesting) with few restrictions. This makes it difficult to track who actually received, completed, and submitted each ballot. For over a year, the Department of Justice has been trying to audit California’s voter rolls. Federal law gives the Attorney General the authority to review state voter files and confirm that only eligible U.S. citizens are voting in federal elections. @AAGDhillon sent California a letter explaining our legal authority. California refused to comply, claiming state privacy laws block the review, an argument that does not hold up because those laws don’t apply to the federal government in this context. We’ve sued California in federal court, and the case is before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. If California genuinely wants voters to trust its elections, it should open its records, not fight to keep them closed. What are they afraid of? Join: @USAtty_Essayli✅

If you have witnessed potential election fraud, we want to hear from you. People have been contacting our office wanting to provide information. We have established a dedicated email address for this purpose. Email tips to: CAElectionFraudTips@usdoj.gov Please do not send rumors, theories, or second-hand information. We require direct evidence. Examples of what to report: • A ballot arrived at your home for someone who has never lived there. • You were told someone already voted in your name. • You witnessed someone filling out ballots for others without their knowledge. Join: @USAtty_Essayli✅

There was a claim circulating on social media about an election night ballot update at the Los Angeles Registrar of Voters where one candidate received zero votes. We reviewed official county records. The claim is false. Each candidate received votes in every update. My office will continue monitoring the election counting process and will follow the evidence wherever it leads. If anyone has credible information concerning election fraud, please send it to: CAElectionFraudTips@usdoj.gov Join: @USAtty_Essayli✅

Inside look at our massive operation to clean up MacArthur Park in Los Angeles by arresting the top leaders of the 18th Street gang. This was conducted at the direction of #AGPamBondi and @KashPatel_FBI to dismantle violent organized crime and open-air drug markets. Join: @USAtty_Essayli✅

ARRESTED: Leo Grillo, 77, of Acton, founder and president of Dedication and Everlasting Love to Animals (DELTA) Rescue, has been arrested on a federal criminal complaint charging him with the attempted kidnapping of a former employee who won a $6.7 million wrongful termination judgment against him in November 2024. DELTA Rescue is a Los Angeles County-based animal welfare organization that bills itself as the largest no-kill animal sanctuary of its kind in the world. The organization entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2025. Grillo wrote two checks totaling $30,000 to have his former employee kidnapped and flown from Lancaster, California, to Mexico, where she would be pressured to settle the civil lawsuit. Fortunately, law enforcement was notified of the plot, intervened, and arrested Grillo yesterday. He is expected to make his initial appearance this afternoon in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. If convicted, Grillo faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Join: @USAtty_Essayli✅

Categorizing students by race to allocate funding is racist and unconstitutional. All students deserve equal treatment. Join: @USAtty_Essayli✅