A chain of for-profit schools is facing a lawsuit after it allegedly misguided students on federal financial aid forms, according to a announcement today by Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi and United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida Wifredo A. Ferrer.
The suit alleges that Fast Train II Corp. had students fill out fraudulent student aid applications. This action led the school system to get federal funds that amounted to millions of dollars. Fast Train II Corp., ran operations for seven Florida schools that were located in Duval, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The alleged claims happened between Jan. 1, 2009 to June 22, 2012. During this period they allegedly submitted financial aid claims to the United States Department of Education, in addition to submitting claims for Federal Direct Loans and Federal Pell Grants.
“Taking advantage of students in order to exploit federal financial aid programs is reprehensible, and we will continue to work with our federal partners to protect Florida students and the integrity of federal financial aid,” said Bondi.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations and the United States Department of Education participated in the investigation.
“Federal financial aid is designed to help students obtain an education,” Ferrer said. “Misuse of taxpayers’ dollars cannot be tolerated – not only for the sake of taxpayers, but especially in the case of innocent individuals who seek to improve their lives through a quality education.”