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The founder and president of an online university based in Pleasanton has been sentenced to 16 years in federal prison for running a visa fraud scheme.
Federal prosecutors said Tri-Valley University — which was run by Susan Xiao-Ping Su, 44, of Pleasanton — was a bogus, unaccredited venture designed to rake in millions of dollars from foreigners who sought to obtain student visas so they could stay in the U.S.
After a three-week trial before U.S. District Court Judge Jon Tigar, Su was convicted on March 23 of 31 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, use of a false document, false statements to a government agency, alien harboring, unauthorized access to a government computer and money laundering.
In addition to sentencing Su to the lengthy prison term at a hearing on Friday, Tigar ordered her to forfeit $5.6 million and pay $904,000 in restitution.
Prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s Office said evidence at Su’s trial showed she engaged in a two-year scheme to defraud the U.S. Department of Homeland Security by submitting fraudulent documents in support of the university’s petition for approval to admit foreign students.
Prosecutors said that after Su obtained that approval, she fraudulently issued visa-related documents to student aliens in exchange for “tuition and fees.”
Prosecutors said that in Su’s petition for approval, she made material false representations to Homeland Security about Tri-Valley University’s admission requirements, graduation requirements, administrators, instructors, class transferability and intent to comply with federal regulations.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Su admitted and maintained foreign students in exchange for tuition and other payments.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Su made nearly $6 million through her operation of Tri-Valley University and engaged in seven money laundering transactions using proceeds to purchase commercial real estate, a Mercedes-Benz and multiple residences, including a home in the Ruby Hill community in Pleasanton — each in her name.
Prosecutors said authorities began investigating Su in May 2010 after they received a tip.
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