United States Attorney David Metcalf announced that Ahmed Hassan, a 71-year-old from Collegeville, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to over five years in prison. United States District Judge John F. Murphy handed down the sentence of 64 months’ imprisonment along with three years of supervised release for defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) of more than $500,000. Hassan was also ordered to pay restitution amounting to $565,058.70 and a special assessment of $2,200.
The indictment against Hassan came in April 2021. Following a trial in October 2024, a federal jury convicted him on 22 counts of wire fraud related to his misuse of his position at the VA.
During the trial, it was shown that Hassan had been a supervisory engineer at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia. His responsibilities included managing mechanical and HVAC systems and overseeing related contracts. From 2013 to October 2017, Hassan engaged in fraudulent activities by submitting false invoices through a shell company named HT Mechanical, which he had set up with Lynn Hanrahan.
Hassan created fictitious work orders and submitted them under the VA purchase card program. The payments made by the VA were then funneled back to him through his paramour.
"Fraud against the government hurts us all," stated U.S. Attorney Metcalf. "It heightens the cost of public services and threatens their availability to deserving citizens."
Christopher Algieri from the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General’s Northeast Field Office emphasized that this sentencing underscores accountability for those who defraud the VA.
The investigation was carried out by the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the FBI. Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran and Assistant United States Attorney Mary E. Crawley are prosecuting this case.
Hanrahan faced charges in connection with this scheme as well; she pleaded guilty and was sentenced earlier this year on January 8.
