EXPOSED: Federal Immigration Officials Caught in Staggering Cash-for-Citizenship Betrayal

Liberty Check

• Former senior USCIS official and accomplice arrested for allegedly accepting nearly $1 million in bribes to fast-track citizenship applications
• Defendants bypassed critical security checks including criminal background reviews and standard interviews
• Scheme exploited immigration system, undermining the integrity of America’s legal immigration process

A former senior U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services official and his alleged partner are now facing serious federal charges after investigators uncovered a multi-year bribery scheme involving nearly $960,000 in illegal payments.

The former official, Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, and his financial accomplice, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, were arrested on federal charges for their roles in what prosecutors describe as a brazen conspiracy to manipulate and expedite immigration applications in exchange for cash payments. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas announced the charges following an extensive investigation.

Both men were charged with conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities by a public official. They were taken into custody on Wednesday.

Federal investigators uncovered extensive WhatsApp communications between Ganiyu, Somoye, and numerous immigration applicants whose cases they handled. The evidence includes thousands of messages and hundreds of phone calls that allegedly reveal the scope of the illicit arrangement.

Between December 2019 and March 2026, the duo allegedly circumvented standard immigration procedures by giving preferential treatment to applicants who paid bribes directly to Ganiyu. These applicants were able to skip critical steps in the immigration process including criminal background checks, mandatory interviews, and other essential security reviews that protect the American public.

According to prosecutors, Ganiyu abused his position by altering the USCIS system to fast-track applications for those willing to pay. He allegedly expedited citizenship for Somoye himself before approving residency applications for Somoye’s wife and child—a clear conflict of interest that raises serious questions about the integrity of the process.

Ganiyu allegedly rerouted applications from USCIS field offices in Minneapolis, Charlotte, and Houston, deliberately bypassing local supervisors so he could personally approve them without oversight. This systematic manipulation of the system allowed him to operate with minimal accountability while enriching himself at the expense of honest applicants who followed the rules.

Court documents reveal that Ganiyu received approximately $671,438 from citizenship applicants through digital payment platforms Zelle and Cash App. He also received an additional $287,830 in cash deposits that prosecutors say were structured to conceal the money’s illegal source.

Somoye, acting as the alleged financial intermediary, processed roughly $1.7 million in transfers involving applicants through various bank accounts and payment apps. He allegedly kept a portion of the payments for himself and deposited $449,010 in cash, according to court documents.

The complaint alleges that Ganiyu and Somoye frequently exchanged money “back and forth” with applicants in a pattern that strongly suggests coordination and intent to defraud the system.

Most of the citizenship applications the pair handled involved applicants from African countries, according to federal prosecutors.

Prosecutors noted that Ganiyu resigned from USCIS in March, citing “personal reasons”—several months before his arrest. The timing of his resignation raises questions about whether he became aware of the federal investigation closing in on his activities.

“Selling immigration benefits for cash is a blatant abuse of public trust,” U.S. Attorney Ryan Raybould said in a statement.

“When a federal official puts a price tag on lawful status, we will intervene immediately.”

Each defendant faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000 if convicted. The charges represent a serious effort to restore integrity to an immigration system that Americans depend on to keep the country safe while welcoming those who follow the law.

Americans deserve better.