From autism clinics in Minneapolis to property deeds in Nairobi, investigators say the trail of deceit exposes a fraud empire built on the backs of children with special needs
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By TWV Investigations
A 28-year-old Kenyan woman has been charged in the United States with wire fraud over her role in a Ksh1.8 billion (US$14 million) autism fraud scheme, with prosecutors alleging that part of the proceeds was invested in Kenyan real estate. Asha Farhan Hassan is also facing charges of participating in the Feeding Our Future fraud scheme, through which she allegedly received Ksh60 million (US$465,000).
“Today’s charges mark the first in the ongoing investigation into fraud in the EIDBI Autism Programme,” Acting US Attorney Joseph H. Thompson said on Wednesday. “This is not an isolated scheme. From Feeding Our Future to Housing Stabilisation 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.”
According to the US Department of Justice, Hassan and others devised and executed a scheme to defraud the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioural Intervention (EIDBI) benefit, a publicly funded Minnesota Health Care Programme providing medically necessary services for people under the age of 21 with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA therapy), one of the key treatments covered, is designed to help children with autism develop social and emotional skills. Under EIDBI rules, services must be supervised by a Qualified Supervising Professional (QSP).
From November 2019 to December 2024, Hassan allegedly used her company, Smart Therapy LLC, registered in Minnesota under her sole ownership, to fraudulently enroll children, employ unqualified relatives as “behavioural technicians”, and bill Medicaid for services never provided. Prosecutors claim Smart Therapy obtained more than Ksh1.8 billion (US$14 million) in reimbursement funds.
To lure families, Hassan and her partners allegedly paid parents monthly cash kickbacks ranging from US$300 to US$1,500 per child. These bribes were covered by Medicaid funds billed fraudulently. When parents demanded more or threatened to switch providers, Smart Therapy allegedly increased the payouts.
Investigators say Smart Therapy submitted inflated or fabricated claims, including services supposedly delivered by providers who were out of the country or unaffiliated with the centre. Many children, prosecutors claim, were simply dropped off daily, with transportation firms, some on Smart Therapy’s payroll, billing DHS for rides.
Hassan is also accused of defrauding the Federal Child Nutrition Programme through Feeding Our Future. Smart Therapy allegedly claimed to serve hundreds of meals per day to children, backed by falsified rosters, invoices, and vendor contracts. Between 2020 and 2021, she reportedly claimed nearly 200,000 meals, securing about US$465,000.
US authorities allege that Hassan funnelled part of the stolen funds abroad, including into real estate investments in Kenya. “Abusing publicly funded health programmes for personal profit is an act of greed and a betrayal of the most vulnerable,” said Alvin M. Winston Sr., Special Agent in Charge of FBI Minneapolis. “The alleged fraud by Hassan resulted in the theft of millions meant for children in need. The FBI and our partners will not relent until those exploiting government programmes are brought to justice.”
The case is being prosecuted by Acting US Attorney Thompson with Assistant US Attorneys Rebecca E. Kline, Harry M. Jacobs, and Daniel W. Bobier.
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