US woman jailed for running fake uni A SAN Francisco woman has been sentenced to more than 16 years in prison for running a sham university that served as a front for an immigration scam. SUSAN Xiao-Ping Su, founder and president of the phoney Tri-Valley University, was accused of charging hundreds of foreigners, mostly Indian nationals, tuition and other payments for visa-related documents that allowed them to live and work in the US. She made more than $US5.6 million ($A6.1 million) and used the money to buy commercial real estate, a Mercedes Benz and multiple homes, including one at a golf club. US District Court Judge Jon S. Tigar sentenced the 44-year-old after she was convicted in March of visa fraud and other charges. She was also ordered to forfeit the $US5.6 million and pay more than $US900,000 in restitution to two companies that processed payments from students, authorities said. Su's lawyer, John Jordan, said he has filed a notice of appeal with the Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals. "Student visas are intended to give people from around the world a chance to come to this country to enrich themselves with the vast learning opportunities available here," Tatum King, acting special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations, San Francisco, said. Most of the students appeared to know they were taking part in a fraudulent scheme. They received visa-related documents in exchange for about $US2700 a semester, Rose said. Many of them left the country on their own after the school was raided in 2011, while others applied to regain their student status. The Tri-Valley case is not unique in the San Francisco area. Jerry Wang, the chief executive officer of Herguan University and the University of East-West Medicine, is also facing visa fraud charges in connection with what authorities say is a similar scheme. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial next month.