EXPOSED: Former Senior USCIS Officer and Associate Arrested in Alleged Cash-for-Immigration-Benefits Scheme — Applications Approved Without Interviews or Background Checks

A former Senior Immigration Services Officer with USCIS, Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, and his associate, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, have been arrested on federal charges related to an alleged multi-year corruption scheme. Prosecutors claim Ganiyu used his position to approve various immigration applications, including for citizenship and permanent residency, in exchange for money, often bypassing mandatory interviews and background checks. The pair allegedly collected hundreds of thousands of dollars, with evidence including financial records and extensive communications.

• Former USCIS Senior Immigration Services Officer Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu and associate Adeniyi Akeem Somoye arrested on federal charges.
• Accused of a multi-year scheme to receive illegal gratuities for manipulating and expediting immigration applications.
• Allegedly bypassed mandatory interviews, supervisory reviews, background checks, and USCIS processing procedures.
• Some applicants approved through the scheme were allegedly not legally eligible.
• Ganiyu and Somoye reportedly collected hundreds of thousands of dollars.
• Evidence includes payments corresponding to approvals and extensive WhatsApp communications.
• Defendants face up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted.