A USCIS federal employee and his accomplice were arrested last week for selling immigration approvals to aliens. Most were not eligible on any level.
United States Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Ryan Raybould announced that Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, a former Senior Immigration Services Officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and Adeniyi Akeem Somoye were arrested on federal charges. They allegedly engaged in a multi‑year scheme to receive illegal gratuities in exchange for manipulating and expediting immigration applications.
The Suspects Face Five Years in Prison
They are charged with conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official.
“The alleged manipulation of immigration decisions for personal gain undermines the integrity of a process essential to our national security,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock. “The FBI and our law enforcement partners remain committed to holding accountable anyone who abuses their position of trust.”
From December 2019 through March 2026, Ganiyu used his official position to approve immigration applications in exchange for money. Investigators allege that Ganiyu bypassed required interviews, supervisory review, jurisdictional limitations, background checks, and standard USCIS processing protocols to unlawfully expedite approvals for applicants, many of whom were not eligible under federal law.
They collected hundreds of dollars in payments from applicants.
The suspects each face up to five years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines.