US indicts 15 Chinese in university cheating scam

The United States has indicted 15 people from China with fraud and conspiracy over a four-year scam to fake entry tests into American universities in what campaigners warn is a wider problem. Attorney David Hickton for the western district of Pennsylvania unsealed the 35-count indictment against the suspects, of whom seven men and five women aged 19 to 26 were identified on Thursday. Ten of the suspects are resident in the United States in Boston, Pittsburgh, California, Wisconsin, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Massachusetts.

I suspect this is not confined to China. We are aware of a case done years ago with Saudi nationals.

Attorney David Hickton for the western district of Pennsylvania

US prosecutors refused to identify which colleges were involved, saying that the institutions were classified as victims. Fraud carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000; counterfeiting a foreign passport carries a maximum penalty of 10 years and/or a fine of $250,000; and conspiracy is punishable by five years in prison and/or a fine of $250,000.

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