Marinello Schools of Beauty in Niantic Faces Difficult Future

The Niantic Marinello Schools of Beauty faces an uncertain future after its parent company had its federal education funding yanked following an investigation into alleged falsifying of records.

The Day reports that the for-profit chain of beauty schools is losing about 80 percent of its funding, and it sent letters to students warning them that its existence looks murky.

Federal education officials say the beauty schools have a host of problems, including allegedly faking diplomas and withholding some financial aid.

In addition to Niantic, the chain has other Connecticut locations in Fairfield, East Hartford, Hamden, Willimantic and Meriden.

“We learned of these allegations only an hour before they were released publicly. While we intend to appeal this decision and while Marinello believes it has done nothing wrong and will defend itself vigorously, without the federal funds our students deserve, our operations are at risk,” the company wrote in a letter to students, as reported by The Day.

More than 20 of the locations nationally are being denied re-certification by the feds, as a result of the investigation, according to KABC-TV.

“Unfortunately, some schools violate their trust through deceptive marketing practices and defraud taxpayers by giving out student aid inappropriately,” said U.S. Under Secretary of Education Ted Mitchell in a statement, as reported by KABC-TV.