4 Bosnian immigrants are accused of lying about past

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jun 9, 2006 | by Geoffrey Fattah Deseret Morning News

Four resident Bosnian immigrants face federal prison for allegedly lying on their Visa applications to the United States about their connection to a military group linked to genocide and the massacre of Bosnian Muslims.

According to indictments unsealed Thursday, the three men and one woman made "materially false statements" regarding their military service in the Bosnian Serb military. All four signed sworn statements in their Visa applications but failed to disclose their prior military ties.

Federal prosecutors say an immigration investigation revealed the group had served with the Army of the Republika Srpska, or the Vojska Republika Srpska (VRS). The VRS participated in human rights violations, including the Srebrenica massacre in which thousands of Bosnian Muslim boys and men were slaughtered in 1995. The Srebrenica massacre has been classified as genocide by the International Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

"Individuals who have persecuted others are not admissable to the United States by law," noted a statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office for Utah. Because of atrocities committed by various sides during the Bosnian War, Bosnians who seek refuge in the United States are required to declare all military service.

Indicted are Milenko Stjepanovic, 55; Mirka Stjepanovic, 53; Ranko Nastic, 54; and Branko Ristic, 46. All are residents of Salt Lake City. Each entered pleas of not guilty during a hearing Thursday before a U.S. Magistrate Judge. An additional hearing has been set for next Monday. In the meantime, all have been asked to surrender their passports and green cards and ordered not to travel outside of the country and are restricted in inter-state travel.

If convicted, each faces a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Federal officials say none of the people are suspected at this point of any war crimes, but are accused of obtaining visas by fraudulent means.

"The failure of these defendants to list their military service on refugee applications and subsequent applications here in Utah to obtain permanent residency precluded a proper and meaningful screening of their case by officials," said acting U.S. Attorney for Utah, Stephen Sorenson. "We believe the immigration status each of these defendants presently enjoys was obtained by fraud."

Sorenson said there have been instances where former VRS members have been screened by U.S. officials and cleared for entry into the U.S. The group's failure to disclose their service denied U.S. officials the opportunity to screen their background.

"We will not allow the United States to become a sanctuary for those using fraud and deception to qualify for refugee status," said Assistant Special Agent in Charge for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Utah, Joseph Romel.

E-mail: gfattah@desnews.com