Federal authorities have charged Asha Hassan, owner of Smart Therapy Center for allegedly stealing $14M in taxpayer money
Published by RawNews1st
Federal authorities have charged Asha Hassan, owner of Smart Therapy Center for allegedly stealing $14M in taxpayer money for bribing parents to enroll kids in fake autism services.
Asha Farhan Hassan, owner of
Smart Therapy Center, has been charged with wire fraud in connection with a scheme that allegedly stole $14 million from a Minnesota autism treatment program, the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program. Hassan is accused of bribing parents to enroll children, some without an autism diagnosis, in fake or incomplete therapy services between 2019 and late 2024.
Separately, Hassan also faces charges related to the “Feeding Our Future” investigation, where she allegedly defrauded the Federal Child Nutrition Program out of $465,000 by submitting fraudulent claims for meals never served. This makes her the first person charged in the EIDBI autism fraud investigation and the 76th defendant charged in the Feeding Our Future investigation. The charges follow FBI raids on Smart Therapy Center and another clinic in December 2024.
Fraud Allegations
- Kickbacks to Parents: Hassan and Smart Therapy allegedly paid monthly kickbacks ranging from $300 to $1,500 to parents who enrolled their children. Some parents allegedly threatened to switch providers if they didn’t receive higher kickbacks.
- Unqualified Staff: The scheme involved employing 18- or 19-year-old relatives with no relevant training or certifications as behavioral technicians.
- Exaggerated Claims: Prosecutors allege Hassan submitted claims for the maximum hours allowed by Medicaid, even when minimal or no services were provided.
- Money Laundering: Hassan allegedly split the fraudulent proceeds with partners and sent hundreds of thousands of dollars abroad, including to purchase real estate in Kenya.
