PITTSBURGH —
A former employee at a Pittsburgh cosmetology school has filed a whistleblower lawsuit accusing the school of fraud.
The lawsuit was filed in federal court by Jennifer Michael, who was the operations manager at Fountain of Youth Academy in Squirrel Hill.
The complaint said the school targeted low-income African-American women and created false invoices to receive financial aid.
The suit said the school applied for financial aid in students' names without their approval and would not refund unused financial aid.
The lawsuit accused Fountain of Youth and owner Cheri Herold of "a pattern of racketeering activity... intentionally defrauding students, state and federal agencies, state and federal financial institutions and state and federal funds/resources."
John Silvestri, attorney for the school and Herold, called the allegations "absolutely false", adding: "If any of these allegations were true and ongoing, she'd be put out of business because the government doesn't put up with someone forging loans or engaging in predatory behavior."
But former student Andreina West said the lawsuit's allegations mirror her experience.
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Watch the video above to hear West speak about the lawsuit.
"We're in this desperate situation to create a future for our families and she takes advantage of that," West said.
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