Los Angeles, Nov. 5 (PTI): The founder of California-based Tri-Valley University, Susan Xiao-Ping Su, has been sentenced to over 16 years in prison for running a sham varsity that served as a front for an immigration scam affecting hundreds of Indian students.

Su, 44, was convicted on 31 counts of wire and mail fraud, money laundering, alien harbouring and other charges relating to running an immigration scam, the department of justice said.

“Every year, our country welcomes academically qualified students from all over the world to learn from our country’s best and brightest,” US attorney Melinda Haag said. “The defendant’s scheme took advantage of this highly valuable immigration process, reducing opportunities for legitimate, worthy student applicants.”

Su opened Tri-Valley University in 2008. The unaccredited university grew from 11 students with visas to 939 in a one-year span in 2010. Tri-Valley charged students $2,700 in tuition per semester.

Hundreds of Indians faced deportation after Tri-Valley University was forced to shut down following a raid in 2011.