First autism‑program fraud defendant Asha Hassan pleads guilty; nearly $16M restitution
Asha Hassan pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the Minnesota autism‑services case and agreed to pay nearly $16 million in restitution after admitting to a roughly $14 million Medicaid billing scheme and stealing hundreds of thousands tied to the Feeding Our Future program. Hassan — the first person charged in the autism‑center probe and identified as the 76th defendant in the broader Feeding Our Future investigation — remains free pending a contemplated 70–87 month sentence, is reported to have some cooperation with prosecutors, and her case is part of an inquiry investigators say is pushing roughly $300 million in alleged fraud with more charges expected.
📌 Key Facts
- Asha Hassan pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the Minnesota autism‑services fraud case.
- She agreed to pay nearly $16 million in restitution; prosecutors described roughly $14 million in Medicaid (EIDBI) billings tied to the autism scheme and said she also stole hundreds of thousands of dollars connected to the Feeding Our Future (FOF) program.
- The plea agreement contemplates a 70–87 month prison sentence; Hassan remains free pending sentencing.
- Hassan is the first defendant charged in the autism‑center probe and the 76th defendant in the broader Feeding Our Future case.
- Her attorney, Ryan Pacyga, said Hassan planned to plead guilty within weeks and that there is “some level of cooperation” with federal prosecutors; defense statements characterized a “perfect storm” of factors — including recent state funding changes — that enabled the scheme.
- Investigators say total fraud across related cases is “pushing $300 million,” and more charges are expected.
- FOX 9 reported Smart Therapy Centers claimed to feed up to 1,200 children daily through Feeding Our Future, sought nearly $500,000 in reimbursements, and separately billed about $14 million for EIDBI services; First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said roughly two dozen FOF defendants also received funds from autism clinics, illustrating cross‑program fraud.
📊 Relevant Data
Nearly 80,000 people of Somali descent live in Minnesota, with about 78% residing in the Twin Cities area.
How Minnesota became a hub for Somali immigrants in the U.S. — NPR
The poverty rate among the Somali population in Minnesota is 36%, compared to 9.3% for the overall Minnesota population in 2023.
73.9% of Somali Minnesotans have a high school degree or higher, compared to an overall high school graduation rate of 84.2% in Minnesota for the 2023-24 school year.
Latest Data on Somali Minnesotans 2024 — Empowering Strategies
1 in 12 (8.26%) 8-year-old Somali children in Minnesota have autism, compared to lower rates in other groups.
Press Briefing 9-26-25 — MN-ADDM
Fraud took root in pockets of Minnesota's Somali diaspora as scores of individuals made off with $250 million in federal child nutrition money during the pandemic.
How Fraud Swamped Minnesota's Social Services System on Tim Walz's Watch — The New York Times
📰 Sources (3)
- Asha Hassan pleaded guilty to one count of wire fraud in the Minnesota autism‑services fraud case.
- She agreed to pay nearly $16 million in restitution; prosecutors describe a ~$14 million Medicaid scheme.
- Hassan admitted also stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars tied to the Feeding Our Future scheme.
- Plea agreement contemplates a 70–87 month sentence; she remains free pending sentencing.
- First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson said roughly two dozen FOF defendants also received funds from autism clinics, illustrating cross‑program fraud.
- Defense says Hassan plans to plead guilty within weeks.
- Her attorney, Ryan Pacyga, says there is 'some level of cooperation' with federal prosecutors.
- FOX 9 reports Smart Therapy Centers claimed feeding up to 1,200 children daily via Feeding Our Future and sought nearly $500,000 in reimbursements, in addition to ~$14 million in EIDBI billings.
- Hassan is identified as the 76th defendant in the broader Feeding Our Future case and the first charged in the autism-center probe.
- Defense quotes characterize a 'perfect storm' of factors enabling the scheme; article notes the state only recently changed funding approaches to these programs.
- Investigators’ fraud totals are 'pushing $300 million,' with more charges expected across related cases.