Chinese founder of fake US university made US$5.6m in immigration scam
Chinese founder made US$5.6m by charging foreigners for visa-related documents allowing them to stay in the US, federal prosecutors say
A Chinese woman has been jailed for more than 16 years for running a fake US university that served as a front for an immigration scam.
Susan Su Xiao-ping, founder and president of Tri-Valley University in the San Francisco Bay area, made US$5.6 million by charging hundreds of foreigners for visa-related documents that allowed them to live and work in the US.
She used the money to buy commercial real estate, a Mercedes Benz and multiple homes, federal prosecutors said on Monday.
US District Court Judge Jon Tigar sentenced Su, 44, on Friday after she was convicted in March of visa fraud and other charges. She was also ordered to forfeit US$5.6 million and pay more than US$900,000 in restitution to two companies that processed payments from students.
Her lawyer John Jordan said Su had lodged an appeal.
"Student visas are intended to give people from around the world a chance to come to this country to enrich themselves with the vast learning opportunities available here," said Tatum King, acting special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations, San Francisco.