An Ottawa man who forged documents to allow hundreds of immigrants to enter Canada has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years behind bars.

Mohamed Farah Abdulle, 54, was sentenced Monday after being convicted last November on five charges relating to the immigration fraud scheme, according to a statement from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).

According to the CBSA, Abdulle had filed more than 170 fraudulent sponsorship applications for 528 people, all while collecting fees from the applicants for his services.

He was found guilty on Nov. 18 on four criminal code charges: making false documents, using false documents, possessing identity documents to commit offences, and misrepresenting material facts.

Abdulle was also convicted of bribery under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the border agency said. He was sentenced to 43-and-a-half months in jail.

Investigation began six years ago

The CBSA-led investigation into Abdulle's activities, dubbed Project Vista, began in 2010 after the agency received a tip from someone whose identity had been used without their consent to support the sponsorship applications.

That tip led to charges being laid against Abdulle in November 2011.