Autism and therapy centres 'defraud health benefit programme of £16m'

Two members of the public have been accused of health care fraud after allegedly pocketing $21million (£15.6million) worth of taxpayer money. Minnesota residents Shamso Ahmed Hassan and Hanaan Mursal Yusuf were arrested on May 21 on charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, eight counts of health care fraud, and two counts of money laundering.

A statement released by the Department of Homeland Security has confirmed the arrests were made on the two Minnesota residents. An ongoing investigation has noted Hassan's role as the owner of a Smart Therapy Center and Star Autism Center. She had also been enrolled as a privoder of services for the Minnesota Early Intensive Development and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) Program.

Hassan is also listed as an employee and lead biller for Smart Therapy Center, and was responsible for submitting claims to Medicaid. The pair are said to have carried otu a scheme to defraud health care benefit programs, with a total cost of $21.1million.

The money made by the pair came through submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicaid between May 2020 and December 2024.

Acting Assistant Secretary Lauren Bis said: "These Minnesota residents have been accused of stealing more than $21 million from the American taxpayer. They now face charges of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, EIGHT counts of health care fraud, and TWO counts of money laundering.

"Their Medicaid fraud scheme started during the COVID pandemic and lasted for four years. ICE continues to zero in on the rampant fraud in Minnesota. Under Secretary Mullin, we will end the defrauding of the American people."

Both women will remain in custody pending judicial proceedings, the Department of Homeland Security has confirmed. Hassan's involvement in the Medicaid fraud case marks one of 15 criminal charges announced by the Department of Justice earlier this week.

According to Colin McDonald, the assistant attorney general for the national fraud enforcement division, the charges involve seven different state-managed Medicaid programs that have been "systematically pilfered by fraudsters who treated Minnesota-run programs as their personal piggy bank."

McDonald said law enforcement is working to bring the suspects into custody, CBS News reported. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Health and Human Services secretary, said the charges Thursday represented "the largest autism fraud bust in American history."