U.S. Charges 16 Former Members of Bosnian Serb Military

The U.S. government said today 16 former members of the Bosnian Serb military were charged in connection with their efforts to obtain refugee status in the U.S. The defendants allegedly concealed their prior service in the Bosnian Serb military. One of the men is a former commander of a police unit that allegedly cooperated with other Bosnian Serb entities in the July 1995 massacre of Muslims in Srebrenica, according to a federal affidavit. Indictments and criminal complaints were filed in Florida, Wisconsin, North Carolina, Colorado, Michigan and Ohio. The defendants allegedly committed fraud by concealing their military service on federal immigration applications. All of the defendants successfully gained entry into the country, and one was able to obtain U.S. citizenship. Most defendants could face a maximum of 15 years in prison. "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 McNulty."