US arrests ex-immigration officer, accomplice over alleged immigration fraud

Federal authorities in the United States have apprehended a former immigration officer, Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, and his accomplice, Adeniyi Akeem Somoye, for allegedly engaging in a multi-year scheme involving fraudulent immigration practices. The arrest took place on September 2, following the filing of a federal criminal complaint on August 31 by the US Attorney's Office for the Northern District of Texas.

Ganiyu, who worked as a Senior Immigration Services Officer with USCIS from December 2019 to March 2026, is accused of exploiting his position to approve immigration applications in exchange for monetary gains. The alleged scheme encompassed a range of applications, including those for relatives, permanent residence, removal of conditions on residence, and even citizenship.

According to the complaint, Ganiyu allegedly circumvented crucial procedures such as mandatory interviews, supervisory reviews, jurisdictional restrictions, background checks, and other standard USCIS protocols. This allowed him to expedite applications, including those from individuals who were reportedly ineligible under federal law. Authorities further allege that Ganiyu and Somoye collected hundreds of thousands of dollars from applicants, with payments seemingly timed to coincide with approvals issued by Ganiyu.

The investigation also revealed a vast network of communication via WhatsApp between the defendants and applicants whose cases they allegedly managed. The records show thousands of messages and hundreds of telephone calls exchanged during the period under scrutiny.

FBI Special Agent in Charge R. Joseph Rothrock emphasized that manipulating immigration decisions for personal gain jeopardizes the integrity of a process vital to national security. He highlighted the FBI and its law enforcement partners' commitment to bringing to account individuals who abuse positions of public trust.

Both Ganiyu and Somoye made their initial court appearances before a US Magistrate Judge on September 2. If convicted, each faces up to five years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000. The case was investigated by the USCIS Office of Investigations, Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, and the FBI Dallas Field Office, with Assistant US Attorney Chad Meacham handling the prosecution.

It is important to note that the criminal complaint contains allegations only and does not equate to evidence of guilt. Both defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.