Shikun Zhang, Admission Exam Scam, Massachusetts 2022
Chinese National Sentenced in College Admissions Exam Scam
BOSTON, MA - In a shocking case of academic deceit, Shikun Zhang, a 23-year-old Chinese national, was sentenced to time-served and removed from the United States for defrauding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in its administration of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.
According to court documents, Zhang pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States. U.S. District Court Judge Allison D. Burroughs handed down the sentence, which effectively ends Zhang's stay in the US.
The scheme, which unfolded in December 2015, involved Zhang registering to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam, required for admission to American universities participating in DHS's Student and Exchange Visitor Program. Zhang failed to achieve a high enough score on prior attempts, so she enlisted the help of a co-conspirator to take the exam on her behalf.
With the co-conspirator's high score, Zhang fraudulently submitted the results as her own and was subsequently admitted to an American university. Once admitted, Zhang received DHS's Form I-20, making her eligible to receive an F-1 non-immigrant student visa to enter and remain in the US for the duration of her studies.
Acting United States Attorney William D. Weinreb and other law enforcement officials announced the sentencing today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Nicholas Soivilien of Weinreb's Major Crimes Unit prosecuted the case.
Shikun Zhang, Defendant
Exact Criminal Charge: Conspiracy to defraud the United States
City and State: Boston, Massachusetts
Exact Date: December 2015
Sentence: Time-served and removal from the United States
Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: White Collar Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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