CA pastor, university owner accused of helping foreigners fraudulently get student visas

CA pastor accused of student visa conspiracy

SANTA ANA, Calif. — Immigration officials have accused a Southern California pastor of helping foreigners fraudulently obtain student visas and handing out phony diplomas at a fake graduation ceremony on a campus where they never attended class.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Wednesday that 65-year-old pastor Samuel Chai Cho Oh surrendered to authorities Tuesday.

Officials say Oh is accused of conspiracy to commit visa fraud for allegedly charging between $600 and $10,000 to help foreigners get visas on the premise they would attend the Christian university he owns in Fullerton.

Authorities say Oh acknowledged that 75 percent of the 300 students at California Union University did not regularly attend class.

No one answered a call to the university Wednesday.