Aaron Mattison, who served as chief financial officer for Pinky Cole’s now-shuttered Atlanta restaurant Bar Vegan from 2021 to 2022, has been indicted on multiple felony charges including theft by taking, first-degree forgery, and money laundering.
According to court documents, Mattison allegedly orchestrated several unauthorized financial moves while overseeing the restaurant’s books. Prosecutors say he fabricated documents that appeared to have Bar Vegan’s approval, then wired $87,000 to accounts he controlled for his personal benefit.
Pinky Cole’s Ex-Bar Vegan CFO Indicted on Theft, Forgery, and Money Laundering Charges
He is also accused of making repeated $600 withdrawals between September 2021 and June 2022 that totaled more than $24,999, followed by transfers across multiple bank accounts in what authorities describe as a money-laundering scheme.
Bar Vegan, an extension of Cole’s popular Slutty Vegan brand, was located in Ponce City Market and has since closed. Cole herself has not been charged in the case.
The indictment comes more than four years after a former Bar Vegan employee filed a 2022 lawsuit alleging unpaid wages, withheld tips and overtime, and violations of federal minimum-wage laws. Cole, Mattison, and co-owner Jason Crain were named as defendants in that civil case. The parties eventually reached a settlement in which $62,172 was paid to the plaintiffs.
At the time of the lawsuit, Cole’s representatives emphasized that she had no personal ownership stake in Bar Vegan LLC. The restaurant was owned by Slutty Vegan Inc., and any liabilities fell under the corporate entity rather than Cole individually. Cole has publicly stated she served only as CEO of the parent company and did not hold a direct financial interest in the restaurant.
The criminal case against Mattison is moving forward independently of the earlier wage dispute. Court records were first obtained and reported by The Neighborhood Talk.
Cole has not commented publicly on the latest charges against her former executive.