MINNESOTA — Days after a barefoot Minnesota fraud suspect was captured hours after fleeing the FBI, another Minnesota fraud case is drawing attention. This time, two women are accused of stealing more than $21 million from a state program meant to help children and young people with autism.
Federal prosecutors say Shamso Ahmed Hassan, 55, and Hanaan Mursal Yusuf, 25, submitted fake claims through two companies connected to autism services. The money came from Minnesota’s Early Intensive Development and Behavioral Intervention Program, also known as EIDBI.
Autism Program Allegedly Targeted
The EIDBI program is meant to help people under 21 with autism and related conditions.
Prosecutors say Hassan co-owned two companies, Smart Therapy Center LLC and Star Autism Center LLC. The companies were enrolled as providers so they could bill the state for autism services.
Between May 2020 and December 2024, Hassan and Yusuf allegedly submitted millions of dollars in false claims. Federal officials say the claims were for services that were not actually provided.
The two companies allegedly received about $21.2 million through the scheme.
Kickbacks Allegedly Paid to Parents
Prosecutors say the fraud involved payments that were disguised through checks written to employees and family members connected to the facilities.
The money was then allegedly cashed and paid out to parents as monthly kickbacks. According to federal prosecutors, the payments were between $300 and $1,500 per month and were referred to using the code word “computer.”
Authorities say the kickbacks were used to keep people involved in the scheme and make the fake claims look real.
Money Allegedly Spent on Property and Personal Items
Federal officials say Hassan and Yusuf used stolen taxpayer money on themselves and their families.
Prosecutors allege some of the money was used to buy property in Kenya. Other funds were allegedly spent on a truck and other personal expenses.
Hassan and Yusuf, both of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, are U.S. citizens and live together, according to officials. They remain in federal custody while the case continues.
Food Benefit Fraud Also Alleged
Hassan is also accused of scamming food benefit programs for children and adults.
Prosecutors say she claimed Smart Therapy was serving hundreds of children breakfast and lunch every day, seven days a week.
By April 2021, the company allegedly claimed it was serving 1,200 meals a day. Federal officials say Hassan knew those numbers were greatly inflated.
Between 2020 and 2021, prosecutors say she claimed nearly 200,000 meals and received about $465,000.
Part of Larger Fraud Crackdown
The case is part of a wider federal investigation into fraud involving Minnesota programs.
Officials say 15 people were charged in recent indictments tied to more than $90 million in stolen taxpayer funds.
Hassan and Yusuf’s arrests are also connected to a larger fraud case involving more than $46 million. Two other defendants, Asha Farhan Hassan and Abdinajib Hassan Yussuf, previously reached plea deals connected to the Smart Therapy and Star Autism cases.
Both Smart Therapy Center and Star Autism Center lost their Minnesota state licenses earlier this year.
The investigation remains ongoing as federal officials continue reviewing how public money meant for vulnerable children was allegedly stolen.
To view more cases involving massive fraud schemes, stolen taxpayer money, and suspects accused of abusing public programs, check out our video here:
