When Cheating Goes International: The Story of Leyi Huang
Picture this: a bright-eyed 21‑year‑old, dreaming of a Penn State pad and the prestige of an American degree, but the TOEFL score she needed was nowhere near ready. What follows is a tale of ambition gone rogue—and the legal lesson that came along.
How the Plan Took Shape
- 2016, March: Huang hires a paid test‑taker to dive into her place.
- Test: The TOEFL, the benchmark English exam for foreign applicants.
- Result: A score that cements her spot at Penn State.
In a twist that would make a spy movie jealous, the stolen educational achievement was underpinned by a $3,000 bill—S$3,900 in Hong Kong currency—and a passport that changed hands like a covert trading card.
Passport, Pack, Pay – It Was All in the Name of Education
Following the broker’s cue, Huang mailed her Chinese passport to a Massachusetts address—a paper trail that later linked her to the bigger scheme. The passport was then handed to Yue Wang, a Hult International Business School alum, who took the TOEFL on her behalf.
Not only did Wang play a double role in the exam fraud, but the same shady circuit helped at least two other Chinese women secure student visas, gunning for U.S. academia. The result: a covert network that defrauded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
Judicial Finale: Time Served and Deportation
Huang’s 21‑year‑old self‑confession earned her a maximum of five years behind bars, a sentence that turned out to be “time‑served.” She’s grateful that the judge, Dennis Saylor, saw past the PTAs and sci‑fi plot for a deportation outcome.
She, along with Wang and the two other accusate ninjas, faced immigration‑related charges in 2017, pleaded guilty, and were sent back home—all within the same time frame. So the method worked, but the bullet points were a stern reminder that the U.S. is watching the doorways through which students pass.
Once Rich, Now Smart: China’s Rising College Count
The rise in Chinese students seeking U.S. Degrees is undeniable. The Institute of International Education reported a 6.8% bump in 2016‑17, topping 350,000—a statistically significant migration to the U.S. for those looking to sweeten their résumé and sky‑rocket their careers.
All in all, the story of Leyi Huang shows: ambition has no bounds, but integrity is the real key to the American Dream. Let’s toast with a cup of sincerity, because the most authentic graduate is the one who passes exams on their own.
