# USCIS official bribery and fraud investigation > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/uscis-official-bribery-and-fraud-investigation > Updated: 2026-09-07T11:00:13.000Z. Sources: 13. Developments: 2. Federal authorities arrested Lukman Owolabi Ganiyu, a former senior U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer, and Adeniyi Akeem Somoye in connection with a multi-year corruption and bribery scheme. Prosecutors allege the scheme operated from December 2019 through March 2026. Ganiyu is accused of using his position to manipulate and expedite various immigration applications—including naturalization, permanent residence, and petitions for alien relatives—in exchange for money. To facilitate these approvals, Ganiyu allegedly bypassed mandatory procedures such as interviews, background checks, and supervisory reviews. Subsequent charging documents reveal the scale of the alleged bribery, stating the pair accepted nearly $960,000. Ganiyu reportedly rerouted cases from field offices in Minneapolis, Charlotte, and Houston to approve them himself, while Somoye allegedly acted as a financial intermediary. Somoye is accused of processing approximately $1.7 million in transfers to conceal the source of funds, using platforms like Zelle and Cash App. Both men face federal charges for conspiracy to receive illegal gratuities. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-07: Former USCIS official charged in $960K citizenship bribery scheme A former USCIS official and an accomplice face federal charges for an alleged $960,000 bribery scheme to fast-track citizenship and immigration applications by bypassing standard security protocols. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/former-uscis-official-charged-in-960k-citizenship-bribery-scheme ### 2026-09-05: Former USCIS officer arrested in alleged immigration fraud scheme A former USCIS officer and an associate face federal charges for an alleged multi-year scheme to exchange immigration benefits, including green cards and citizenship, for illegal gratuities. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/former-uscis-officer-arrested-in-alleged-immigration-fraud-scheme --- Cite as: USCIS official bribery and fraud investigation. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/uscis-official-bribery-and-fraud-investigation