Minnesota State Wire

Asha Farhan Hassan, 28, has been charged with wire fraud for her alleged involvement in a $14 million scheme targeting Minnesota’s Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) autism program. Hassan also faces charges related to participation in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, which resulted in her receiving $465,000.

“Today’s charges mark the first in the ongoing investigation into fraud in the EIDBI Autism Program,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson. “To be clear, this is not an isolated scheme. From Feeding Our Future to Housing Stabilization Services and now Autism Services, these massive fraud schemes form a web that has stolen billions of dollars in taxpayer money. Each case we bring exposes another strand of this network. The challenge is immense, but our work continues.”

According to federal documents, from November 2019 through December 2024, Hassan established Smart Therapy LLC and registered it as an EIDBI provider agency. Though listed as sole owner, other individuals with prior exclusions from state programs reportedly had ownership stakes not disclosed on official documents.

The EIDBI program provides medically necessary services such as Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for people under 21 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or related conditions. Requirements include an individual treatment plan developed after a comprehensive evaluation.

Investigators allege that Smart Therapy hired unqualified staff as behavioral technicians and recruited children from the Somali community by offering parents monthly cash kickbacks ranging from $300 to $1,500 per child based on service authorizations. Medicaid claims were allegedly inflated or filed for services not rendered, often using fraudulent provider signatures.

Prosecutors say Smart Therapy received more than $14 million in reimbursements from Minnesota DHS and UCare through these activities. A portion of the proceeds was reportedly sent abroad and used for real estate purchases in Kenya.

Hassan is also accused of defrauding federal nutrition programs designed to provide meals to children through false claims about meal services at Smart Therapy under Feeding Our Future sponsorship beginning July 2020. Federal authorities allege that fraudulent documentation supported claims for nearly 200,000 meals between 2020 and 2021, resulting in approximately $465,000 disbursed.

“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 Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Sr., FBI Minneapolis. “The alleged fraud by Hassan resulted in the theft of millions of dollars intended to serve and support children in need. The FBI and our partners will not stop pursuing those who unscrupulously exploit government programs. We will secure justice for the taxpayers of Minnesota.”

The investigation was conducted by the FBI; Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General; IRS – Criminal Investigation; and United States Postal Inspection Service.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson along with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Harry M. Jacobs, and Daniel W. Bobier are prosecuting the case.

An information is merely an allegation; all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.