Minnesota Woman Charged in $14 Million Autism Fraud Scheme, Linked to Feeding Our Future

Minneapolis, MN – A 28-year-old woman, Asha Farhan Hassan, has been charged with wire fraud for her alleged role in a $14 million autism fraud scheme that exploited taxpayer funds in Minnesota. Hassan, who operated Smart Therapy LLC, is accused of fraudulently billing the state's Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program, which provides services for children with autism. This case marks the first charges in what authorities describe as an ongoing investigation into widespread fraud.

Prosecutors allege that Hassan and her partners at Smart Therapy LLC submitted millions of dollars in fraudulent claims to Medicaid between November 2019 and December 2024. The scheme involved hiring unqualified individuals, including teenage relatives, to act as behavioral technicians and paying parents monthly kickbacks ranging from $300 to $1,500 per child to enroll them. Court documents indicate that Hassan and her associates actively recruited children, particularly from the Somali community, and worked to get them qualified for autism services even if they did not have a diagnosis.

The charges also reveal Hassan's connection to the larger "Feeding Our Future" scandal, where she allegedly received $465,000. Her attorney, Ryan Pacyga, stated that Hassan is cooperating with the investigation and plans to plead guilty, acknowledging that "Asha knew at some point that the fraud began, and she let it continue on for a while." Fraud proceeds were reportedly sent abroad, with some used to purchase real estate in Kenya.

US Acting Attorney Joseph H. Thompson highlighted the interconnected nature of these illicit activities. "To be clear, this is not an isolated scheme," Thompson said in a press release, adding, "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." He emphasized that each new case exposes another strand of this network, with investigations continuing.

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) has responded by increasing oversight, implementing onsite compliance visits, and enhancing screening for autism providers. DHS has also tightened billing requirements and is moving to pause new autism provider enrollments until stricter licensing is in place. The DHS Office of Inspector General currently has 84 open cases concerning autism providers, underscoring the scale of potential fraud within the program.