Former senior U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services official Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu and his financial accomplice, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, have been federally charged in a multi-year bribery scheme that funneled nearly $960,000 in illicit payments in exchange for expedited and manipulated immigration benefits, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas.
Rigging the System from the Inside Out
Federal investigators uncovered a sophisticated operation running from December 2019 to March 2026. During this period, Ganiyu allegedly abused his position within USCIS to bypass standard operating procedures for applicants willing to pay cash or digital gratuities. According to court documents obtained by The New York Post, Ganiyu hijacked the agency’s electronic architecture to snatch files directly from field offices in Minneapolis, Charlotte, and Houston. By routing these applications through himself, he systematically avoided local supervisor reviews, mandatory interviews, and criminal background checks.
The alleged scheme relied heavily on digital payment platforms. Prosecutors state that Ganiyu pocketed roughly $671,438 through Zelle and Cash App, alongside an additional $287,830 in cash deposits meticulously structured to conceal the origin of the funds. Most of the immigration and citizenship applications manipulated through this racket involved individuals hailing from African countries, according to federal filings.
The Financial Intermediary and Digital Paper Trail
Investigators unspooled the operation after discovering thousands of WhatsApp messages and hundreds of phone calls exchanged between Ganiyu, Somoye, and various applicants. Somoye acted as the primary financial conduit for the enterprise. Court records show Somoye processed roughly $1.7 million in total transfer volume, skimming a cut of the bribes while handling bank transfers, Zelle payments, and depositing $449,010 in physical cash.
The financial windfall starkly contrasted with the duo’s official economic footprint. Ganiyu pulled in an annual government salary of $67,732, while Somoye reported a mere $7,506 in legitimate yearly wages. As federal scrutiny intensified earlier this year, Ganiyu avoided an immediate firing by quietly resigning from USCIS in March, citing personal reasons, several months before federal agents moved in to execute arrests on September 2.
Unraveling Public Trust and National Security Concerns
Federal authorities emphasize that monetizing legal status strikes at the heart of national security and the integrity of the nation’s legal immigration framework. U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould did not mince words regarding the betrayal of public office. “Selling immigration benefits for cash is a blatant abuse of public trust,” Raybould said in a statement. “When a federal official puts a price tag on lawful status, we will intervene immediately.”
The joint investigation was spearheaded by the USCIS Office of Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and the FBI Dallas Field Office, with Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham handling the prosecution.
Both defendants made their initial court appearances on September 2, facing a federal charge of conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official. If convicted, Ganiyu and Somoye face a maximum sentence of up to five years in federal prison and fines reaching $250,000 each.
