(CNN)Two people have been charged with running a years-long scheme that took in at least $27 million from foreign investors, which involved false promises for green cards in exchange for investments, funding a fake school and promising access to prominent American politicians, including former President Donald Trump, in exchange for money that was allegedly used in a straw donor scheme.
Sherry Li and Lianbo "Mike" Wang were arrested Monday and charged with wire fraud conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy and conspiracy to defraud the US by obstructing the Federal Election Commission's administration of campaign finance laws in a complaint that was unsealed Monday. CNN has reached out to attorneys for Li and Wang for comment.
Prosecutors allege that Li, from her Long Island home starting in 2013, devised a scheme to defraud investors by convincing them to invest in a fake plan to build a private school. Wang allegedly served as the general manager of the fictitious Thompson Education Center, the complaint states, and Li and Wang allegedly siphoned off proceeds for their personal use including housing, vacations, clothes, jewelry and political contributions to prominent politicians.
Prosecutors have alleged Li and Wang acted as straw donors for foreign nationals to illegally give campaign contributions to support US politicians and political committees, including Trump, and that the pair used photos they took with Trump and former first lady Melania Trump to solicit...
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