An Australian newspaper reports that a Chinese citizen was arrested for creating a fake U.S. Army unit. He was involved in convincing immigrants that joining the squad was a path to citizenship.

Yupeng Deng, 51, allegedly gave his recruits military uniforms, had them parade in a Los Angeles suburb and took them to the decommissioned USS Midway aircraft carrier, which is a museum in San Diego.

Deng charged more than 100 fellow Chinese nationals a fee of between $300 and $450 to join the fake Army unit, according to the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office.

He named his squad ‘MSFR (the U.S. Army/Military Special Forces Reserve unit)’. He gave himself the lofty title of supreme commander.

He convinced his recruits that belonging to the unit were a path to U.S. citizenship and also urged them to pay him cash for higher military rank.

He also allegedly provided them with fake documents and phony military identification cards.

A Serious Crime

Deng faces up to eight years in prison if convicted.

Jane Robison, a spokeswoman for the District Attorney's Office, declined to comment anything on this case. She said that all the details and evidence will come out in a preliminary hearing.

International News inextlive from World News Desk