$14M Autism Fraud: First Charges Filed Against Asha Hassan

MINNEAPOLIS – Asha Farhan Hassan, age 28, has been slapped with federal wire fraud charges today, marking the first indictment in a sprawling $14 million scheme to defraud Minnesota’s autism services program. Hassan is also implicated in the already notorious Feeding Our Future fraud, through which she allegedly pocketed $465,000.

Acting U.S. Attorney Joseph H. Thompson didn’t mince words: “Today’s charges mark the first in the ongoing investigation into fraud in the EIDBI Autism Program,” he stated. “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.”

The scheme targeted the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) benefit, a state-funded program designed to provide critical services to children under 21 diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The program covers therapies like Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), which aims to improve social skills through positive reinforcement. Legitimate EIDBI providers are required to employ Qualified Supervising Professionals (QSPs) and ensure clients meet strict eligibility criteria, including a comprehensive multi-disciplinary evaluation (CMDE) and enrollment in Medicaid.

From November 2019 through December 2024, Hassan and her co-conspirators allegedly built a fraudulent operation around Smart Therapy LLC, registered by Hassan herself. While presented as a legitimate provider of one-on-one ABA therapy, Smart Therapy allegedly staffed its sessions with unqualified “behavioral technicians” – often teenagers with no formal training in autism treatment. Crucially, the company concealed ownership stakes from the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS), including one owner previously barred by DHS for misconduct running an adult daycare.

The operation hinged on recruiting children with existing autism diagnoses and individualized treatment plans. Hassan and her partners allegedly targeted parents within the Somali community, pushing their children into Smart Therapy’s services. The investigation is ongoing to determine how many children were fraudulently enrolled and how the stolen funds were diverted. The fact that Hassan also enrolled Smart Therapy in the Federal Child Nutrition Program under the Feeding Our Future umbrella suggests a pattern of exploiting multiple social programs for personal gain.

This case is a stark reminder of the vulnerability of programs designed to help the most vulnerable. While the dollar amounts are staggering, the true cost lies in the compromised care for children with autism and the erosion of public trust. The investigation continues, and Thompson promises more charges are on the horizon as authorities untangle the complex web of fraud.