DALLAS - A former senior U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer and a second man have been arrested on federal charges accusing them of collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for manipulating and expediting immigration applications.
Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, a former senior immigration services officer with USCIS, and Adeniyi Akeem Somoye were arrested Sept. 2. A federal criminal complaint filed Aug. 31 charges both men with conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official.
According to the complaint, Ganiyu used his government position from December 2019 through March 2026 to approve immigration applications in exchange for money.
Investigators allege Ganiyu circumvented required interviews, background checks, supervisory reviews, jurisdictional restrictions and other standard USCIS procedures to expedite applications.
Some of the applicants were not eligible for the immigration benefits they received, according to federal investigators.
The applications allegedly manipulated by Ganiyu included petitions for relatives, applications for permanent residency, petitions to remove conditions on residency and applications for U.S. citizenship.
Federal investigators allege Ganiyu and Somoye collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from applicants during the scheme. Several payments corresponded with immigration applications approved by Ganiyu, according to the complaint.
Investigators also uncovered extensive WhatsApp communications involving Ganiyu, Somoye and applicants whose cases they allegedly handled. Authorities said the communications included thousands of messages and hundreds of calls during the period under investigation.
"Selling immigration benefits for cash is a blatant abuse of public trust," U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said. "When a federal official puts a price tag on lawful status, we will intervene immediately."
Both men made their initial appearances before a U.S. magistrate judge Sept. 2.
If convicted, each faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000.
The USCIS Office of Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and FBI Dallas Field Office investigated the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Chad Meacham is prosecuting.
