‘RHOA’ Star Pinky Cole’s Ex-CFO Charged In Bar Vegan Theft and Money Laundering Case

The financial drama surrounding Pinky Cole Hayes has become even messier.

Drama, Drama, Drama

Aaron Mattison, the former chief financial officer for Bar Vegan, has been indicted in Georgia on multiple felony charges tied to the now-closed Atlanta restaurant once connected to Cole’s growing hospitality empire.

According to court documents, Mattison faces charges including theft by taking, first-degree forgery, and money laundering after allegedly orchestrating unauthorized financial transactions while overseeing Bar Vegan’s finances between 2021 and 2022, The Neighborhood Talk first reported.

Prosecutors claim Mattison created fake financial records that appeared to be approved by the company before allegedly initiating an $87,300 wire transfer for personal use. Authorities also accuse him of repeatedly withdrawing company money in $600 increments, allegedly totaling more than $24,999.

Investigators say the money was later transferred through multiple bank accounts.

Cole Hayes has not been accused of any wrongdoing in the case, but the indictment comes as the celebrity restaurateur continues trying to stabilize her business empire after several years involving lawsuits, bankruptcy proceedings, and aggressive restructuring efforts.

Bar Vegan, once located inside Atlanta’s Ponce City Market, was marketed as part of Cole Hayes’ larger vision beyond her successful Slutty Vegan burger chain. But the restaurant later became embroiled in legal problems of its own.

In 2022, former employee Morgan Georgia filed a lawsuit accusing Bar Vegan leadership of withholding tips, failing to pay overtime, and violating federal wage laws. Cole Hayes, Mattison, and co-owner Jason Crain were all listed as defendants in the complaint.

The parties later agreed to pay more than $62,000 to settle the case.

A representative for Cole Hayes subsequently stated that while the entrepreneur was personally named in the lawsuit, she did not have a direct ownership stake in Bar Vegan LLC.

In recent years, Cole Hayes has openly discussed the pressures tied to rapid expansion and growing overhead costs of growing Slutty Vegan.

“You can never take your hands off the wheel,” Cole Hayes previously said while talking about the company’s restructuring process.

The entrepreneur filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last year, reporting liabilities estimated between $1.3 million and $1.4 million. Court filings also showed debts owed to both the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Georgia Department of Revenue.

Still, Cole Hayes has continued pushing forward with plans for what she has called “Slutty Vegan 2.0,” including franchise expansion efforts after regaining control of the company in 2025.