Federal agents arrested two Minnesota women who allegedly defrauded taxpayers of over $21 million through a fraudulent autism services scheme that submitted false claims for children who never received treatment, with some stolen funds sent overseas.
The Fraud Scheme Details
Shamso Ahmed Hassan, 55, and Hanaan Mursal Yusuf, 25, both from Brooklyn Park, face federal charges after investigators say they submitted $46.6 million in fraudulent claims to Minnesota’s Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention program between May 2020 and December 2024. The Medicaid-funded EIDBI program provides autism services for children. Prosecutors allege the pair collected approximately $21.1 million for services never rendered, billing for children who did not qualify and paying illegal kickbacks to parents for enrolling their children.
According to the federal indictment, Hassan concealed her ownership of Smart Therapy Center and Star Autism Center from Minnesota regulators while Yusuf worked as a provider and submitted fraudulent claims. The women allegedly disguised kickback payments by routing money through family members and employees, with some funds transferred overseas. Both women have been charged with conspiracy to commit health care fraud, eight counts of health care fraud, and two counts of money laundering.
Pattern of Program Abuse
The Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Investigations division made the arrests as part of a broader crackdown on fraud in Minnesota social programs. Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis stated the agency will continue pursuing those who defraud American taxpayers. The same Smart Therapy Center was previously implicated in another massive fraud case when Asha Farhan Hassan pleaded guilty in late 2025 to stealing $14 million from the identical autism program. That individual also had connections to the Feeding Our Future scandal, which involved over $250 million in fraudulent child nutrition program claims.
Implications for Taxpayers
These cases represent part of a larger wave of social program fraud affecting Minnesota taxpayers. The repeated targeting of programs designed to help vulnerable children with autism raises serious questions about oversight and accountability. Both defendants are American citizens who have pleaded not guilty and remain in federal custody awaiting trial. Federal prosecutors continue investigating similar schemes that exploit government-funded health and nutrition programs. The money stolen represents resources that should have served children with genuine developmental needs rather than enriching individuals through false claims and fabricated services.
