California university CEO indicted for visa fraud

San Jose Mercury News 05 August 2012

Striking a blow against a Silicon Valley institution that attracted foreigners with student visas, US federal agents last week raided Herguan University and charged its CEO with visa fraud, write Lisa M Krieger and Molly Vorwerck for San Jose Mercury News.

The indictment marks the second time federal officials have ensnared a Bay Area university in a growing effort to catch up with institutions that allegedly rake in millions of dollars as so-called visa mills. Herguan University leader Jerry Wang (32) was arrested last Thursday at his home in Santa Clara and charged in a 15-count indictment that could send him to prison for up to 23 years and amount to more than $1 million in fines.

The charges come a year after an investigation by this newspaper found Herguan was among a group of Bay Area institutions – including the now-shuttered Tri-Valley University – that misrepresented information on federal applications, which allowed them to sponsor overseas students for coveted visas.
Full report on the Mercury News site

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