in may 2009, the institute of technological studies announced that it had formed a partnership to open a branch campus of stmu in colombo, sri lanka, beginning in june 2009, with approximately 75 students, for which stmu claimed to have government approval. the closure of stmu ended these plans and other plans for expansion into italy. "health education associates unlimited, inc.", the investment firm promoted by uhrin and stmu president and ceo jeffrey t. irwin to finance the sri lanka and italy expansions, folded in 2009, leaving investors unpaid. a former us attorney who examined the firm's agreements characterized it as fitting the characteristics of a ponzi scheme; in december 2009, uhrin denied that it was a plan to defraud investors.