Nigerian -American USCIS Officer Arrested Over Alleged $960k Green Card Bribery Scheme

A Nigerian -American Immigration Services officer and his Nigerian accomplice have been arrested after federal prosecutors accused them of taking payments to fast-track immigration applications, including cases involving green cards and U.S. citizenship. They are Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu who was arrested on September 2 alongside alleged co-conspirator Adeniyi Akeem Somoye. US Prosecutors accuse them of running a corruption scheme for several years, with Ganiyu allegedly using his position inside USCIS to approve or accelerate applications outside the agency's normal procedures and Somoye as the source of payments running into thousands of dollars. According to federal prosecutors, the alleged scheme operated from December 2019 through March 2026 during whichGaniyu bypassed interviews, supervisory reviews, jurisdictional restrictions, background checks and other safeguards to secure immigration benefits for applicants. The applications reportedly included Form I-485 filings for lawful permanent residence, as well as cases involving family sponsorship, removal of conditions on residency and naturalization. Prosecutors allege some beneficiaries did not qualify for the immigration benefits they received under federal law. The ivestigators say Ganiyu and Somoye communicated extensively through WhatsApp while arranging payments and immigration approvals. The affidavit reportedly identified about $287,830 in unexplained cash deposits into Ganiyu's accounts and approximately $671,438 in payments through services including Zelle and Cash App. Some of those transactions were allegedly connected to people with USCIS applications. Ganiyu earned roughly $407,838 in salary from USCIS between 2020 and 2025 and, according to investigators, reported no other employment during that period. One case highlighted by investigators involved Somoye's naturalization application. The affidavit alleges Ganiyu assigned the application to himself and approved it on the same day in December 2022. Investigators say Ganiyu subsequently received about $138,392 from Somoye through bank transfers between May 2023 and January 2026. Another $21,900 allegedly came from a company managed by Somoye. The case came to investigators' attention in May 2025 after USCIS's Office of Investigations received an allegation that Ganiyu was selecting and processing certain applicants outside established agency procedures. A review of his government email account allegedly uncovered personal financial records, including bank statements showing payments from Somoye. Ganiyu joined USCIS in November 2018 and worked in Kansas, Texas and North Carolina. He was promoted to Senior Immigration Services Officer in Dallas in April 2024. He resigned from USCIS on March 21, 2026, citing personal reasons, according to the affidavit. U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould speaking at a Fort Worth press conference. Source: Amanda McCoy U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said the alleged conduct amounted to a serious breach of public trust. 'Selling immigration benefits for cash is a blatant abuse of public trust.' Raybould added that federal prosecutors would act when officials attempt to put a price on lawful immigration status, saying, 'Public corruption will never be tolerated in the Northern District of Texas.' USCIS also responded to the case, saying, 'There is no place in this agency for corruption, abuse of authority, or violations of public trust.' The investigation involved USCIS's Office of Investigations, the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General and the FBI's Dallas Field Office. FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock said the alleged conduct went beyond ordinary corruption because of the nature of the decisions involved. 'The alleged manipulation of immigration decisions for personal gain undermines the integrity of a process essential to our national security.' He said the FBI and its law enforcement partners remained committed to holding accountable people who abuse positions of trust. Federal prosecutors initially sought to keep Ganiyu in custody, pointing to his dual U.S. and Nigerian citizenship, international travel history, foreign bank accounts and property in Nigeria as potential flight risks. A magistrate judge nevertheless ordered his release under conditions that included GPS monitoring, travel restrictions and surrender of his U.S. and Nigerian passports. His lawyer argued that Ganiyu was not considered a danger to the community and that the restrictions would be sufficient to ensure his appearance in court. Ganiyu and Somoye each face a maximum sentence of five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted. The case remains pending, and the allegations against both men have not been proven in court.