Fed set up fake US university, arrest 21 in bogus visa case

[webfact]

Fed set up fake university, arrest 21 in bogus visa case

NEWARK, New Jersey (AP) — The University of Northern New Jersey fielded no sports teams, held no graduation ceremonies and had no instructors, classes or degree programs. It did have a very attractive website that promised an "exceptional" education for foreign students wishing to study in the U.S.

The school was a sham from beginning to end — and it was created by federal authorities, who used it to arrest 21 people on charges they conspired to help more than 1,000 foreigners fraudulently keep or obtain student or work visas over the past 2½ years.

The defendants whose arrests were announced Tuesday knew the school was bogus, as did the foreigners, who pretended to be students there in order to stay in the U.S., authorities said. But they didn't know it was set up as part of a sting by undercover agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Most of the foreign nationals who benefited from the alleged scheme hailed from China and India and were already in the U.S. on non-immigrant student visas. They have been identified and will be dealt with by immigration authorities — meaning they could face deportation — but won't be prosecuted, Fishman said.

The 21 people arrested were described as brokers, recruiters and employers. They were charged with conspiracy to commit visa fraud and to harbor aliens for profit. The second charge carries up to 10 years in prison. Most of the defendants are in the U.S. legally and live in New York, New Jersey and California. One lives in Illinois, and one in Georgia.

The University of Northern New Jersey's elaborate website promised "a high quality American education to students from around the world." The site contained links to academic programs; a message from the "president," a Dr. Steven Brunetti, Ph.D.; and photos of attractive young people sitting around a library table or consulting with a faculty member.

The site, which was taken offline Tuesday afternoon, even had a school seal that appeared to have been modeled on Princeton University's, except that the fake institution's colors were bluish-purple and green instead of orange and black. The university listed as its address a real building in Cranford, about 15 miles (24 kilometers) outside New York City.

The middlemen under arrest paid the undercover agents running the school thousands of dollars to produce paperwork that made it look as if the foreigners were enrolled at UNNJ, federal prosecutors said. That enabled the "students" to maintain their visa status without having to go to class.

"This was just another stop on the 'pay-to-stay' tour," U.S. Attorney Paul Fishman said.

Immigration officials have investigated hundreds of suspected fake schools, or "visa mills," in recent years. Some have led to charges: Officials at two schools in California and one in Georgia received prison sentences, including one who got 16 years for visa fraud and other charges.

In this case, though, federal authorities set up their own bogus institution. And Fishman said that once word got out about the place, the middlemen descended.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-04-06

[Scott]

So apparently Thailand isn't the only country that has problems with people staying on an education visa.

[NeverSure]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

[GeorgesAbitbol]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

That's how the USA was built anyway

Edited April 6, 2016 by GeorgesAbitbol

[mamypoko]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

That's how the USA was built anyway

That's how Trump scapegoats people, anyway.

It's nothing new.

[wabothai]

How sneeky !!

[ggt]

The US government is expert at setting people up...in devious and bogus ways...to be arrested...

The results speak for themselves...Yet...

Many citizens are arrested under dubious circumstances...

For example: The US Gov't announced a requirement for all banks to report deposits and withdrawals over $10,000...supposedly to target drug money and money laundering...

That was a ruse...what they really did was have the banks report on bank accounts where either the deposits or withdrawals were slightly below $10,000...they called this structuring...arrests were made...lives in disarray...

In another case...they offered free software...to audit computers to see if all software met licensing agreement requirements...those who contacted the bogus company to obtain the free auditing software...were questioned about the number of computers and so on...those that fit a certain profile received a software audit...instead of the promised software...fines and penalties were levied... to companies whose DP managers where trying to do the right thing...and duped into participation...

I could go on...but you get the picture...

[silent]

The US government is expert at setting people up...in devious and bogus ways...to be arrested...

The results speak for themselves...Yet...

Many citizens are arrested under dubious circumstances...

For example: The US Gov't announced a requirement for all banks to report deposits and withdrawals over $10,000...supposedly to target drug money and money laundering...

That was a ruse...what they really did was have the banks report on bank accounts where either the deposits or withdrawals were slightly below $10,000...they called this structuring...arrests were made...lives in disarray...

In another case...they offered free software...to audit computers to see if all software met licensing agreement requirements...those who contacted the bogus company to obtain the free auditing software...were questioned about the number of computers and so on...those that fit a certain profile received a software audit...instead of the promised software...fines and penalties were levied... to companies whose DP managers where trying to do the right thing...and duped into participation...

I could go on...but you get the picture...

That way it's not really entrapment. Just tweaking the law a bit and calling it open net fishing.

[HerbalEd]

How sneeky !!

Who? The Feds or the bogus students?

[55Jay]

Other relevant comments taken into account..... I still think this one was a good effort.

[NeverSure]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

That's how the USA was built anyway

I take it you don't know the history of the Spanish-American war or how things were back then.

Awesome.

[seedy]

nonsense post removed

[rosst]

So apparently Thailand isn't the only country that has problems with people staying on an education visa.

The difference is, get caught and your arse is grass and there are not too many government employees running the scams.

[Publicus]

New Jersey and many other states need a law modeled on the federal law enacted in the 1970s, the 85-15 law that nabs education scams.

Whatever the education scam, and whomever the target group, the school can't have more than 85% of 'em. The other 15% have to be non-whatever. It applied to ripoff artists who wanted to scam war veterans who get GI Bill education stipends. The law shut down a bunch of scam schools.

Feds are way ahead of the states on this score cause there haven't been many such ripoffs since.

The federal law likely would not have applied to the laffer Trump University because it came under state law (New York) and it targeted any American sucker born during his/her particular minute. Trump the billionaire targeting ordinary Americans to separate 'em from their small money.

Maybe the respected George Mason University in the Virginia suburbs of Washington can lead the way for the states, George Mason having been a Founder and co-author of the Declaration, First Amendment and much else.

GMU just named its law school the Antonin Scalia School of Law. That's ASSOL. Good for them then they're quickly changing it to the Antonin Scalia Law School of George Mason University, or ASLS. (Still sounds like something we don't wanna come down with.)

[JDGRUEN]

Too bad - so sad /not ... They had their party for a while... Now go home folks...

Edited April 7, 2016 by JDGRUEN

[chuckd]

The so called brokers knew what they were doing was illegal and the alleged students knew it was illegal.

They broke the law and deserve everything they receive as a result.

Some posters might think about blaming the law breakers rather than law enforcement.

[GeorgesAbitbol]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

That's how the USA was built anyway

I take it you don't know the history of the Spanish-American war or how things were back then.

Awesome.

USA was not built by migrants?

How so??

Please tell me more about the History of your country? White people just spawned there?

[Lampang2]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

Could be beacuse it was their land in the beginning.

Los Angeles

San Francisco

San Diego.

Names that could be a clue.

Texas was once named Tejas.

[Usernames]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

Could be beacuse it was their land in the beginning.

Los Angeles

San Francisco

San Diego.

Names that could be a clue.

Texas was once named Tejas.

Tejas comes from the Caddo word for "friend." Tejas refers to the Indians, not Mexicans or Spanish.

[chuckd]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

Could be beacuse it was their land in the beginning.

Los Angeles

San Francisco

San Diego.

Names that could be a clue.

Texas was once named Tejas.

Tejas comes from the Caddo word for "friend." Tejas refers to the Indians, not Mexicans or Spanish.

Anybody from Texas knows the origin of the name. Google knows too for those so inclined to check their facts first.

Lampang2 would seem to believe the Mexicans stole the land from the indigenous American Indians rather than the slave owning white faced European settlers.

Now that's a refreshing thought.

[Usernames]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

Could be beacuse it was their land in the beginning.

Los Angeles

San Francisco

San Diego.

Names that could be a clue.

Texas was once named Tejas.

Tejas comes from the Caddo word for "friend." Tejas refers to the Indians, not Mexicans or Spanish.

Anybody from Texas knows the origin of the name. Google knows too for those so inclined to check their facts first.

Lampang2 would seem to believe the Mexicans stole the land from the indigenous American Indians rather than the slave owning white faced European settlers.

Now that's a refreshing thought.

Not only that, but the supposition that American whites invaded and took Mexican territory is ignorant virtue signalling at its worst. Every seventh grader in Texas knows that Anglo settlement in Texas began with Moses Austin who received but the first land grant directly from the Spanish crown, because the Spanish population of the region was so sparse that it could hardly be considered under territorial rule. The Anglos were invited settlers, not illegal immigrants. All the documents are still there to see today for anyone who wants to go to the Nacogdoches County Courthouse during everyday working hours and go through the property records. I've done so several times, in researching structures and places applying for state historical site designations.

[Lampang2]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

Could be beacuse it was their land in the beginning.

Los Angeles
San Francisco
San Diego.
Names that could be a clue.


Texas was once named Tejas.

Tejas comes from the Caddo word for "friend." Tejas refers to the Indians, not Mexicans or Spanish.

Anybody from Texas knows the origin of the name. Google knows too for those so inclined to check their facts first.

Lampang2 would seem to believe the Mexicans stole the land from the indigenous American Indians rather than the slave owning white faced European settlers.

Now that's a refreshing thought.

Not only that, but the supposition that American whites invaded and took Mexican territory is ignorant virtue signalling at its worst. Every seventh grader in Texas knows that Anglo settlement in Texas began with Moses Austin who received but the first land grant directly from the Spanish crown, because the Spanish population of the region was so sparse that it could hardly be considered under territorial rule. The Anglos were invited settlers, not illegal immigrants. All the documents are still there to see today for anyone who wants to go to the Nacogdoches County Courthouse during everyday working hours and go through the property records. I've done so several times, in researching structures and places applying for state historical site designations.

Invited initially.

But did not turn out very nice after a while.

American history is not a nice story.

Starting with the Indians continuing with the West and South.

Moral and etics did not take to much space.

Nor did it in the goldrush of 1849.

Or the building of the transatlantic railway.

Not a good deal for the Chinese.

Not was it very fun for the US citizens of Japanese decent after pearl Harbor.

They fought bravely during second world War once they where allowed to participate even though their parents where kept in camps.

Not that the blacks people where allowed in either, but then again that story just repeated itself from the civil war, where they also fought bravely once allowed to do so, but that didn't help them much once the war was over.

Code of ethics. Edited April 7, 2016 by Scott

[55Jay]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

Could be beacuse it was their land in the beginning.

Los Angeles

San Francisco

San Diego.

Names that could be a clue.

Texas was once named Tejas.

Tejas comes from the Caddo word for "friend." Tejas refers to the Indians, not Mexicans or Spanish.

Anybody from Texas knows the origin of the name. Google knows too for those so inclined to check their facts first.

Lampang2 would seem to believe the Mexicans stole the land from the indigenous American Indians rather than the slave owning white faced European settlers.

Now that's a refreshing thought.

Not only that, but the supposition that American whites invaded and took Mexican territory is ignorant virtue signalling at its worst. Every seventh grader in Texas knows that Anglo settlement in Texas began with Moses Austin who received but the first land grant directly from the Spanish crown, because the Spanish population of the region was so sparse that it could hardly be considered under territorial rule. The Anglos were invited settlers, not illegal immigrants. All the documents are still there to see today for anyone who wants to go to the Nacogdoches County Courthouse during everyday working hours and go through the property records. I've done so several times, in researching structures and places applying for state historical site designations.

Invited initially.

But did not turn out very nice after a while.

American history is not a nice story.

Starting with the Indians continuing with the West and South.

Moral and etics did not take to much space.

Nor did it in the goldrush of 1849.

Or the building of the transatlantic railway.

Not a good deal for the Chinese.

Not was it very fun for the US citizens of Japanese decent after pearl Harbor.

They fought bravely during second world War once they where allowed to participate even though their parents where kept in camps.

Not that the blacks people where allowed in either, but then again that story just repeated itself from the civil war, where they also fought bravely once allowed to do so, but that didn't help them much once the war was over.

Code of ethics.

I wonder where those first 'Americans' drew their Code of Ethics from?

[HLover]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

Could be beacuse it was their land in the beginning.

Los Angeles
San Francisco
San Diego.
Names that could be a clue.


Texas was once named Tejas.

Tejas comes from the Caddo word for "friend." Tejas refers to the Indians, not Mexicans or Spanish.

Anybody from Texas knows the origin of the name. Google knows too for those so inclined to check their facts first.

Lampang2 would seem to believe the Mexicans stole the land from the indigenous American Indians rather than the slave owning white faced European settlers.

Now that's a refreshing thought.

Not only that, but the supposition that American whites invaded and took Mexican territory is ignorant virtue signalling at its worst. Every seventh grader in Texas knows that Anglo settlement in Texas began with Moses Austin who received but the first land grant directly from the Spanish crown, because the Spanish population of the region was so sparse that it could hardly be considered under territorial rule. The Anglos were invited settlers, not illegal immigrants. All the documents are still there to see today for anyone who wants to go to the Nacogdoches County Courthouse during everyday working hours and go through the property records. I've done so several times, in researching structures and places applying for state historical site designations.

Invited initially.

But did not turn out very nice after a while.

American history is not a nice story.

Starting with the Indians continuing with the West and South.

Moral and etics did not take to much space.

Nor did it in the goldrush of 1849.

Or the building of the transatlantic railway.

Not a good deal for the Chinese.

Not was it very fun for the US citizens of Japanese decent after pearl Harbor.

They fought bravely during second world War once they where allowed to participate even though their parents where kept in camps.

Not that the blacks people where allowed in either, but then again that story just repeated itself from the civil war, where they also fought bravely once allowed to do so, but that didn't help them much once the war was over.

Code of ethics.

Life has it's ups and downs.

[Lampang2]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

Could be beacuse it was their land in the beginning.

Los Angeles
San Francisco
San Diego.
Names that could be a clue.


Texas was once named Tejas.

Tejas comes from the Caddo word for "friend." Tejas refers to the Indians, not Mexicans or Spanish.

Anybody from Texas knows the origin of the name. Google knows too for those so inclined to check their facts first.

Lampang2 would seem to believe the Mexicans stole the land from the indigenous American Indians rather than the slave owning white faced European settlers.

Now that's a refreshing thought.

Not only that, but the supposition that American whites invaded and took Mexican territory is ignorant virtue signalling at its worst. Every seventh grader in Texas knows that Anglo settlement in Texas began with Moses Austin who received but the first land grant directly from the Spanish crown, because the Spanish population of the region was so sparse that it could hardly be considered under territorial rule. The Anglos were invited settlers, not illegal immigrants. All the documents are still there to see today for anyone who wants to go to the Nacogdoches County Courthouse during everyday working hours and go through the property records. I've done so several times, in researching structures and places applying for state historical site designations.

Invited initially.

But did not turn out very nice after a while.

American history is not a nice story.

Starting with the Indians continuing with the West and South.

Moral and etics did not take to much space.

Nor did it in the goldrush of 1849.

Or the building of the transatlantic railway.

Not a good deal for the Chinese.

Not was it very fun for the US citizens of Japanese decent after pearl Harbor.

They fought bravely during second world War once they where allowed to participate even though their parents where kept in camps.

Not that the blacks people where allowed in either, but then again that story just repeated itself from the civil war, where they also fought bravely once allowed to do so, but that didn't help them much once the war was over.

Code of ethics.

I wonder where those first 'Americans' drew their Code of Ethics from?

Europe.

NORTH America, as we known to know it was designed by Europeans and their children.

Native Americans where not invited.
Nor was black people or Mexicans.

Europeans like myself.

And that's the point.

Don't consider yourself a better human than the cross border Mexican.
I don't.

Actually George Bush kept "inviting" them to get some debt in the company store, they where wanted in the southern agricultural business.

[55Jay]

However, if you're Hispanic, just rock on up to the S. border and waltz right in. No need for a visa. Just make yourself at home. No one will bother you.

Could be beacuse it was their land in the beginning.

Los Angeles

San Francisco

San Diego.

Names that could be a clue.

Texas was once named Tejas.

Tejas comes from the Caddo word for "friend." Tejas refers to the Indians, not Mexicans or Spanish.

Anybody from Texas knows the origin of the name. Google knows too for those so inclined to check their facts first.

Lampang2 would seem to believe the Mexicans stole the land from the indigenous American Indians rather than the slave owning white faced European settlers.

Now that's a refreshing thought.

Not only that, but the supposition that American whites invaded and took Mexican territory is ignorant virtue signalling at its worst. Every seventh grader in Texas knows that Anglo settlement in Texas began with Moses Austin who received but the first land grant directly from the Spanish crown, because the Spanish population of the region was so sparse that it could hardly be considered under territorial rule. The Anglos were invited settlers, not illegal immigrants. All the documents are still there to see today for anyone who wants to go to the Nacogdoches County Courthouse during everyday working hours and go through the property records. I've done so several times, in researching structures and places applying for state historical site designations.

Invited initially.

But did not turn out very nice after a while.

American history is not a nice story.

Starting with the Indians continuing with the West and South.

Moral and etics did not take to much space.

Nor did it in the goldrush of 1849.

Or the building of the transatlantic railway.

Not a good deal for the Chinese.

Not was it very fun for the US citizens of Japanese decent after pearl Harbor.

They fought bravely during second world War once they where allowed to participate even though their parents where kept in camps.

Not that the blacks people where allowed in either, but then again that story just repeated itself from the civil war, where they also fought bravely once allowed to do so, but that didn't help them much once the war was over.

Code of ethics.

I wonder where those first 'Americans' drew their Code of Ethics from?

Europe.

NORTH America, as we known to know it was designed by Europeans and their children.

Native Americans where not invited.

Nor was black people or Mexicans.

Europeans like myself.

And that's the point.

Don't consider yourself a better human than the cross border Mexican.

I don't.

Actually George Bush kept "inviting" them to get some debt in the company store, they where wanted in the southern agricultural business.

No revelation in any of that. The fact Mexican (and others) do "waltz" over the southern border quite easily, and live/work in the USA illegally, is a matter of fact, not opinion, nor makes any reference to feeling superior.

Do you fault Thailand for cracking down on over stayers here?

You didn't mention which country you are from in Europe. Quite a few could be considered a microcosm of what is happening in the US and what is yet to come if they don't get a handle on it. The visceral reaction by Americans is similar to that of many angry, frustrated Europeans. I hear about it quite often here in Thailand as most of the people I mix with are UK/Euro. They are angry and disappointed at what's happened/happening to their homeland, and mostly pleased they were able to "escape" to Thailand.

Immigration is good thing and like most good things, is best in moderation.

[ThaiKneeTim]

The so called brokers knew what they were doing was illegal and the alleged students knew it was illegal.

They broke the law and deserve everything they receive as a result.

Some posters might think about blaming the law breakers rather than law enforcement.

Its still entrapment; the brokers wouldn't have committed that particular crime if the Fed's hadn't set up a bogus university. Maybe it's too much trouble to do some actual detective work.

[55Jay]

The so called brokers knew what they were doing was illegal and the alleged students knew it was illegal.

They broke the law and deserve everything they receive as a result.

Some posters might think about blaming the law breakers rather than law enforcement.

Its still entrapment; the brokers wouldn't have committed that particular crime if the Fed's hadn't set up a bogus university. Maybe it's too much trouble to do some actual detective work.

How did you arrive at that conclusion about the brokers?

It is a lot of trouble, as you will notice in the final paragraphs of the article.