A former senior official at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and his alleged accomplice were arrested Wednesday in the Northern District of Texas on charges tied to a bribery scheme that spanned more than six years, Fox News reported. The two men allegedly collected nearly $960,000 in exchange for fast-tracking immigration benefit applications, including citizenship cases, while bypassing standard federal safeguards.
What Happened
Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, the former USCIS official, and Adeniyi Akeem Somoye face federal conspiracy charges for allegedly accepting illegal gratuities from a public official. Prosecutors say the scheme ran from December 2019 through March 2026, during which Ganiyu allegedly manipulated the USCIS system to expedite applications submitted by paying clients.
Applications were rerouted away from field offices in Minneapolis, Charlotte, and Houston to avoid review by local supervisors. The arrangement also bypassed criminal background checks and required interviews — core components of the standard naturalization process. Most of the citizenship cases involved applicants from African countries.
Investigators uncovered thousands of WhatsApp messages and hundreds of phone calls between the defendants and applicants. Somoye allegedly used the scheme to fast-track his own citizenship, and Ganiyu later approved residency for Somoye’s wife and child. Ganiyu resigned from USCIS in March, citing personal reasons.
By the Numbers
Ganiyu received approximately $671,438 through Zelle and Cash App from citizenship applicants, with an additional $287,830 in cash deposits used to obscure the money’s origin. Somoye processed roughly $1.7 million in total transfers tied to applicants and deposited $449,010 in cash. Combined, the two defendants allegedly accepted close to $960,000 in bribes.
Each defendant faces a maximum of five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted.
What Officials told the Fox News
U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould framed the case as a fundamental breach of public duty. “Selling immigration benefits for cash is a blatant abuse of public trust,” he said, adding that officials who attach a price to lawful immigration status will face immediate federal intervention.
Broader Context
The arrests come as federal immigration enforcement has intensified under the current administration. Immigration arrests reached 50,000 in July, the highest single-month total of President Trump’s second term. Corruption cases targeting those who exploit the legal immigration system have drawn increased prosecutorial attention alongside broader enforcement efforts.