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May 9, 2009 11:33 pm US/Eastern
Flight School Grounded, Students Allege Fraud
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) ―
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Anna Pelevina says she paid $70,000 with the hopes that she would receive an FAA license and employment as a pilot at the end of the program.
Dozens of students at a Fort Lauderdale flight school say they lost tens of thousands of dollars after the program they registered for was grounded.
They told
CBS4 News Reporter Joan Murray that when they showed up for class at Jet University on Friday located at the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, the owners announced they were shutting their doors.
One affected student is Anna Pelevina who says she paid $70,000 with the hopes that she would receive an FAA license and employment as a pilot at the end of the program. Instead, all she got was debt.
"We have been wanting to do this since we were kids. It's our dream," Pelevina said referring to herself and her fellow students.
Students came to Jet University from around the nation and the world.
Travis Middleton says he moved here from Wisconsin to fulfill his dream.
"I'm devastated. I'm out $70,000 and no one else will be willing to give me a loan," he said.
Students say they were misled by the owner Heath Cohen. CBS4 News contacted Cohen by phone. He said his business partner decided to shut the program down.
The partner denies that and says he sunk $300,000 of his own money into the business. He wants a full investigation.
Meanwhile, the students say they are taking their case to Florida's Attorney General. They have since met with a private attorney to discuss ways they could resolve the issue.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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