World | Tue Apr 5, 2016 5:44pm EDT

U.S. officials accuse 1,000 people in phony student visa scheme

NEW YORK | BY MARCUS E. HOWARD

U.S. authorities set up a phony university with a website and an office to nab more than 1,000 people they accused of conspiring to fraudulently obtain student and work visas, New Jersey U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said on Tuesday.

Federal prosecutors charged 21 brokers with felony charges of conspiracy to commit visa fraud, making a false statement, and conspiracy to harbor aliens for profit and other offenses.

The brokers are accused of marketing their services to more than 1,000 foreign nationals primarily from China and India who entered the United States on legitimate student visas and wanted to remain after completing their studies, prosecutors said.

Foreigners who used the services will likely not be prosecuted, but will have their visas revoked, Fishman told reporters.

Federal investigators set up the fake University of Northern New Jersey in 2013, complete with a website, Facebook page and storefront office in Cranford, New Jersey, staffed by undercover agents who posed as school administrators.

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