12 in pyramid scheme sentenced, fined

Shu Yuhui, founder of a Tianjin-based health product manufacturer, was sentenced to nine years in prison by a Tianjin court on Wednesday for organizing and leading a pyramid scheme.

The Tianjin Wuqing District People's Court also fined Shu, 51, chairman of Quanjian Nature Medicine Technology Development Co, 50 million yuan ($7.2 million).

Eleven others who participated in the pyramid scheme were convicted of the same charge, and given fines and sentences ranging from three to six years in prison.