Federal prosecutors charged former USCIS senior official Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu and alleged intermediary Adeniyi Akeem Somoye with accepting nearly $960,000 to manipulate and fast-track immigration and naturalization applications between December 2019 and March 2026. Investigators say the defendants bypassed required background checks and interviews, rerouted cases from local field offices, and communicated extensively with applicants via WhatsApp. Financial records cited in the complaint show electronic transfers and cash deposits tied to the scheme. Each faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.
Nearly $960K Bribe Scheme: Former Senior USCIS Official and Accomplice Arrested
A former senior USCIS official and his accomplice are facing charges for an alleged bribery scheme in which they accepted nearly $960,000 in exchange for favors in the citizenship application process.
A former senior U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) official, Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, and an alleged financial intermediary, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, were arrested on federal charges after prosecutors say the two accepted nearly $960,000 in exchange for manipulating and fast-tracking immigration benefit requests, including naturalization applications.
Allegations and Charges
Federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas charged the men with conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official. According to the complaint, the scheme ran from December 2019 through March 2026 and involved repeatedly circumventing USCIS procedures to advance certain cases in return for payments.
The pair were charged with conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official.
How the Scheme Allegedly Operated
Investigators say Ganiyu used his position to alter internal workflows, reroute cases away from local USCIS field offices in Minneapolis, Charlotte and Houston, and approve applications himself—bypassing standard reviews such as criminal background checks and in-person interviews. Prosecutors further allege the pair communicated extensively with applicants via WhatsApp; investigators recovered thousands of messages and hundreds of calls tied to the cases.
Financial Evidence
Prosecutors say Ganiyu received approximately $671,438 through electronic transfers (Zelle and Cash App) and about $287,830 in cash deposits—amounting to roughly $959,268, which federal officials describe as nearly $960,000. Somoye, acting as the alleged intermediary, is accused of processing roughly $1.7 million in transfers linked to applicants and depositing $449,010 in cash, keeping a portion of payments in the process. The complaint describes frequent transfers "back and forth" among defendants and applicants.
Each defendant faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
Additional Allegations
Prosecutors contend Ganiyu personally expedited citizenship for Somoye and later approved residency applications for Somoye's wife and child. Most of the citizenship cases identified in the complaint involved applicants from African countries. Court records show Ganiyu resigned from USCIS in March, citing "personal reasons," several months before his arrest.
Statement: "Selling immigration benefits for cash is a blatant abuse of public trust," said U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould. "When a federal official puts a price tag on lawful status, we will intervene immediately."
Potential Penalties
Each defendant faces up to five years in federal prison and a potential fine of up to $250,000 if convicted. The charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
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