Asha Hassan is accused of defrauding Minnesota’s autism services program (EIDBI).
U.S. prosecutors allege that Asha Hassan, through her company, ran a scheme that targeted the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioural Intervention (EIDBI) program, which supports children with autism.
Between 2019 and 2024, she is said to have submitted inflated Medicaid claims and hired unqualified individuals to act as behavioural technicians.
“Abusing publicly funded health care programs for personal profit is an act of duplicity, greed, and a betrayal of the most vulnerable in our community,” said FBI Special Agent Alvin M. Winston Sr.
Children were mainly recruited from the Somali community, with parents reportedly receiving monthly kickbacks ranging from KSh 45,000 to KSh 225,000 to keep them enrolled in the program.
Court documents also tie Asha Hassan to the Feeding Our Future fraud, which targeted the Federal Child Nutrition Program.
Between 2020 and 2021, she allegedly claimed nearly KSh 69.7 million ($465,000) for meals that were never provided. At the peak, she reported that her company served 1,200 meals a day, though many of these were fabricated.
“From Feeding Our Future to Housing Stabilisation Services and now Autism Services, these massive fraud schemes form a web that has stolen billions of dollars in taxpayer money,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson.
Authorities claim that part of the fraud proceeds were wired abroad, with some funds used to purchase real estate property in Kenya.
Smart Therapy, Hassan’s company, also billed for transportation services, but many of the claims were false or filed without the knowledge of medical supervisors.
Ownership structures were allegedly misrepresented to bypass restrictions and conceal the involvement of other partners.
The case is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with support from the FBI, the IRS, the Health and Human Services Inspector General, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Asha Hassan has been charged with wire fraud. She is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.
“Justice for taxpayers and the children these programs serve is our priority,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Rebecca E. Kline.
