2026 Minnesota Taxpayer Benefits Fraud Takedown
DOJ announcement of charges against 15 defendants in multiple Minnesota Medicaid fraud schemes totaling over $90 million in alleged losses, including the largest autism fraud case ever charged by the Department. Ilhan Omar, her husbands, her brother husand and her Barnard College Activist daugter were no where in sight.
By SyndicatedNews | SNN.BZ
DOJ announcement of charges against 15 defendants in multiple Minnesota Medicaid fraud schemes totaling over $90 million in alleged losses, including the largest autism fraud case ever charged by the Department.
This involves the Early Intensive Developmental and Behavioral Intervention (EIDBI) program for autism services, plus other Medicaid programs like Housing Stabilization Services.
Key Details from the Announcement
- Two main defendants in the biggest autism-related case: Shamso Ahmed Hassan 55, of Brooklyn Park and Hanaan Mursal Yusuf 25, also of Brooklyn Park. They face charges including conspiracy to commit health care fraud, health care fraud, conspiracy to defraud the US/false statements related to health care, and money laundering.
- Allegations: They allegedly paid kickbacks to parents to bring children to autism centers (Smart Therapy Center and Star Autism Center), diagnosed kids with autism regardless of medical need, and billed Medicaid for services not provided or not reimbursable. Claims totaled ~$46.6 million, with ~ $21.2 million actually paid out.
- This is part of a broader takedown involving 15 people across schemes targeting Medicaid programs for autism, housing, and other services. Officials (including from the Trump administration) highlighted it as exploiting vulnerable children and taxpayers.
On the Affidavit/Indictment
Federal indictments (not always a separate “affidavit” like in search warrant cases) were filed and unsealed recently. As this imfo broke this week, full public Affidavits are listed below.
- The DOJ press release and case summaries describe the allegations in detail but don’t embed the full charging documents.
- Earlier related cases (e.g., the first defendant in the autism probe, Asha Farhan Hassan) used federal informations/complaints for wire fraud.
Best places to check for the latest documents soon:
- Main DOJ announcement: justice.gov/opa/pr/minnesota-health-care-fraud-takedown…
- Health Care Fraud Unit page for materials: justice.gov/criminal/criminal-fraud/health-care-fraud-unit/2026-Minnesota…
CASES FILED IN THE DISTRICT OF MINNESOTA (COMPELTE AFFIDAVITS):
| Case Name | Court Document |
| U.S. v. Shamso Ahmed Hassan, et al. | Indictment |
| U.S. v. Charles Healey and Larsen-Guthmiller | Indictment |
| U.S. v. Deborah Hodges | Indictment |
| U.S. v. Ahmed Othman Kadar | Indictment |
| U.S. v. Sharmaine Meadows | Indictment |
| U.S. v. Muhammad Omar and Ibrahim Abdi | Indictment |
| U.S. v. Jillaine Ann Mertens | Information |
| U.S. v. Candice Langley | Information |
| U.S. v. Cynthia Allen | Information |
| U.S. v. Abdulbasit Ibrahim and Mustafa Dayib | Information |
| U.S. v. Fahima Mahamud | Information |
