U.S. Attorney Announces First Defendant in $14 Million Minnesota Autisim Fraud Scheme

Minneapolis, MN (MinnesotaNow)- The U.S. Attorney’s Office of Minnesota announced the first defendant in another multi-million Minnesota fraud scheme. 

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It’s the latest Minnesota fraud case to be prosecuted by federal officials. Earlier this month, federal prosecutors announced the first charges in a housing program fraud case.

An Edina man made his first court appearance on Tuesday in connection with a nearly $1 million COVID-19 relief fund fraud. The U.S. Attorney’s Office is also continuing prosecution of the Feeding our Future fraud. 

Feds: 28-Year-Old Woman & Partners Stole Millions of Dollars from Minnesota Autism Program

The newest fraud case to include federal charges stems from an autism fraud scheme. A news release issued on Wednesday alleges 28-year-old Asha Farhan Hassan played a role in that fraud scheme. 

Federal court documents allege Hasson set up a company that falsely claimed to be providing services to individuals ages 21 and under with autism, which was part of the requirements to receive taxpayer dollars. 

The news release says Hassan and her partners, who have not yet been named in the case, approached parents in the Somali community to enroll their children in the program. 

They’re alleged to have worked with a Qualified Supervising Professional to get non-autistic children approved to be enrolled in the treatment program, which required an autism diagnosis and individual treatment plan. 

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In exchange for enrolling their children, the parents would receive kickbacks funded by the reimbursement payments made to Hassan’s company, the news release indicates. 

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Hassan and her partners are also accused of submitting millions of dollars in claims for Medicaid reimbursement. Many of the claims were either inflated, made for services never rendered or without the provider's knowledge, the news release says. 

In all Hassan and her partners obtained $14 million in reimbursements from The Minnesota Department of Human Services and Ucare. 

Hassan is accused of sending hundreds of thousands of dollars obtained from the fraud overseas and used some of the stolen money to buy real estate in Kenya. 

Hassan is also accused of enrolling her company in the Federal Child Nutrition Program with a sponsorship from Feeding out Future. 

The news release says she received $465,000 in Federal Child Nutrition Program funds for falsely claiming to have served meals for children. 

Hassan has been charged with wire fraud, the news release says.