16 'refugees' hide Bosnian Serb military service



By Rocky Mountain News
December 15, 2006
Sixteen people have been charged with concealing their prior service in the Bosnian Serb military in order to obtain refugee status in the U.S.
The defendants previously served in the Bosnian Serb military and one man, Nedjo Ikonic, 40, had been a commander of a police unit that cooperated with other Bosnian Serb groups in the July 1995 massacre of Muslims in Srebrenica, said Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty and assistant secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Julie Myers.

According to court documents, the defendants committed immigration fraud and made false statements by hiding their prior service in the Bosnian Serb military units when filing immigration applications in the U.S.

Through fraudulent applications, the defendants were able to gain refugee status allowing them to enter and reside in the United States.

One of the defendants was ultimately able to gain U.S. citizenship.

During the past week, special agents from ICE arrested 13 of the defendants in Denver; Orlando and St. Petersburg, Fla.; Raleigh and High Point, N.C.; Milwaukee; Detroit; and Cleveland. The remaining defendants are still at large.

Milisav Vukovic was charged in the District of Colorado with one count of false statements.

All but one of the defendants face criminal charges including immigration fraud and/or making false statements.

The maximum sentence for making false statements is five years in prison, while the maximum sentence for immigration fraud is 10 years imprisonment.

One defendant has been charged with unlawful procurement of citizenship, which carries a maximum potential sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

"These cases demonstrate our resolve to identify and prosecute those who enter this country under false pretenses, especially those who hide their military past," said Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty.

"Since it was founded, the United States has attracted refugees escaping from persecution and atrocities in their countries of origin," said ICE Assistant Secretary Myers.

"ICE will not allow the United States to be a safe haven for those who failed to disclose their service in military forces that were known to commit atrocities. We will continue to work closely with our international partners to relentlessly pursue such criminals."
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