DeKalb GA News

Homelessness remains a significant challenge in Los Angeles, marked by areas like 'Skid Row,' which have seen expansion in recent years. The city has invested billions in attempting to address this issue, yet the problem persists and appears to be worsening.

In response to concerns regarding the use of funds, Bill Essayli, a newly appointed U.S. attorney, has undertaken an investigation into the spending of these resources. FOX News reports that Essayli, who is aligned with the MAGA movement, has established a new federal criminal task force for this purpose within the Central District of California, covering Los Angeles County.

"We will get to the bottom of it. And if we find that any federal laws are violated, we will arrest and prosecute those individuals involved," said Bill Essayli to Fox News during an interview in Los Angeles.

Essayli introduced the Homelessness Fraud and Corruption Task Force, enlisting federal prosecutors from the FBI, IRS, and HUD. This team will investigate an audit that revealed $2.3 billion in homeless funding is missing from Los Angeles County accounts.

"That is not a rounding error. That’s a lot of money. So we want to get to the bottom of where that money went," Essayli stated.

The investigation might lead to arrests and prosecutions if evidence of misconduct is found. The task force's efforts will concentrate on fraud, waste, abuse, and corruption concerning funds allocated to address homelessness in Los Angeles.

The U.S. Attorney’s office announced the task force on social media, underscoring the potential for legal action based on their findings.

Los Angeles' significant investments in addressing homelessness underscore the complexity of the challenge, but the lack of improvement has prompted questions about the effectiveness and oversight of the funds allocated for these initiatives.