Bankole Olaniyi Akinfe, a 49-year-old contractor with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has been charged with allegedly stealing RAM modules from government laptops.

Mr Akinfe, of Laurel, Maryland, was charged by criminal complaint with theft of government property, according to a statement on Thursday by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland.

Kelly O. Hayes, U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland, announced the criminal complaint with Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari Ph.D., Department of Homeland Security – Office of Inspector General (DHS-OIG). 

According to the criminal complaint, beginning in December 2025, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services headquarters employed Mr Akinfe as a contractor in its Information Technology Customer Support Centre. 

“On August 27, 2026, Akinfe was observed removing at least 10 Random-Access Memory (RAM) modules from USCIS laptops without authorisation,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

It added that Mr Akinfe was further observed putting the RAM modules in his pocket and taking them off the premises. 

“A criminal complaint is not a finding of guilt.  Individuals charged by criminal complaint are presumed innocent until proven guilty at a later criminal proceeding.

“If convicted, Akinfe faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison since the total value of the stolen government property exceeds $1,000,” it noted.

It said that actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties, adding that a federal district court judge determines sentencing after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

“On April 7, the Department of Justice announced the creation of the National Fraud Enforcement Division (“Fraud Division”). 

“The Fraud Division is laser-focused on investigating and prosecuting those who commit fraud against the American people,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.

The department said its efforts to combat fraud support President Donald Trump’s Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, a government-wide initiative chaired by Vice President J.D. Vance to address fraud, waste and abuse within federal benefit programmes.

Ms Hayes commended the DHS Office of Inspector General for its work on the case and thanked assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle A. Li, who is prosecuting the case.