United States Attorney David Metcalf announced the sentencing of Ahmed Hassan, a former contracting officer with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to 64 months in prison. Hassan, aged 71 and residing in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, was found guilty of defrauding the VA of over $500,000. The sentence was handed down by United States District Judge John F. Murphy and includes three years of supervised release. Additionally, Hassan must pay $565,058.70 in restitution, with $150,000 due within 30 days, and a $2,200 special assessment.
Hassan faced charges following an indictment in April 2021. In October 2024, a federal jury convicted him on 22 counts of wire fraud for exploiting his position at the VA to commit theft.
During the trial, it was revealed that Hassan held a supervisory engineering role at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Philadelphia. His responsibilities included managing mechanical and HVAC systems as well as overseeing related contracts.
From 2013 to October 2017, Hassan orchestrated a scheme involving false invoices from a shell company named HT Mechanical. This entity was created with Lynn Hanrahan—a social worker lacking expertise in HVAC systems—to deceive the VA.
Hassan fabricated work orders and submitted them under HT Mechanical’s name for payment through the VA purchase card program. Payments made by the VA were then funneled back to Hassan via checks or cash from Hanrahan.
“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.”
Special Agent Christopher Algieri emphasized accountability for those defrauding the VA: “The VA OIG will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure the integrity of VA’s programs and services.”
The investigation involved collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General and the FBI. The case is prosecuted by Special Assistant United States Attorney Megan Curran and Assistant United States Attorney Mary E. Crawley.
Hanrahan faced charges related to this scheme; she pleaded guilty and received her sentence on January 8, 2025.
