BOISE, ID - A 66-year-old Bosnian national is currently facing federal charges of attempted naturalization fraud after allegedly lying to immigration authorities regarding his past exploits involving purported war crimes in Bosnia that he either directly participated in or oversaw.
On September 15, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) issued a press release regarding the indictment of 66-year-old Bosnian national Miran Kostic on federal charges of attempted naturalization fraud and making materially false statements to law enforcement agents.
The investigation into Kostic, which was reportedly carried out by the FBI and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Seattle branch, revealed an alleged criminal past in his home country of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where authorities claim he carried out various acts of torture against prisoners while operating as a high-level official within the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia.
Kostic, who is reportedly facing war crime charges in Bosnia and Herzegovina, allegedly lied to federal investigators during the process of applying for citizenship in the United States, including by omitting alleged acts involving the pistol-whipping of prisoners, as well as ordering others under his command to carry out various acts of torture against prisoners.
Federal authorities extended accolades for the work contributed by the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs in helping secure the evidence needed for the prosecution, as well as to the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations’ International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals for their efforts in furthering the investigation.
HSI Seattle acting Special Agent in Charge April Miller said in a statement regarding Kostic’s indictment, “Citizenship is a privilege that must be earned with honesty and integrity. HSI will not allow the naturalization process to be undermined by fraud. We remain steadfast in our commitment to investigate and prosecute those who conceal their criminal backgrounds to illegally obtain status.”
Kostic reportedly faces up to ten years in federal prison for each count of attempted naturalization fraud and five years for the false statements charge, according to authorities.
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