Elaine M. Levidow admitted to a fraud that stretched nearly two years.
FORT MYERS — A Fort Myers businesswoman who owned a school designed to improve students’ employability skills, has admitted to her role in a scheme that defrauded a federal student loan program out of at least $90,000.
Elaine M. Levidow, 60, of Fort Myers, pleaded guilty to five counts of wire fraud and one count of fraud involving Department of Education Financial Aid, according to a statement.
Levidow, beginning in approximately July 2017 and continuing through April 2019, devised and perpetrated a scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Education of more than $90,000 in Title IV Federal Student Assistance, according to the plea agreement. The program is the primary federal loan and grant funds available to students attending college and career schools. The U.S. Department of Education requires Title IV funds be applied only to specific allowable charges, including tuition, mandatory fees and room and board contracted by the participating institutions of higher education.
Levidow, as owner and CEO of The Training Domain in Fort Myers, used a website to market her company as offering business software application courses to make individuals more employable.