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October 3, 2007
Former Bosnian Serb soldier found guilty of making false statements
He received U.S. immigration benefits by hiding his military service in Bosnian Civil War
CLEVELAND - A former Bosnian Serb soldier was found guilty here Tuesday for lying about his prior military service during the Bosnian civil war so he could fraudulently receive U.S. refugee status. This guilty verdict follows an investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Ratko Maslenjak, 48, a national of Bosnia-Herzegovina, was found guilty by a jury for making false statements on official U.S. immigration documents about his prior military service. The ICE investigation determined that Maslenjak served in the Army of the Republika Srpska (VRS), Bratunac Light Infantry Brigade, a unit that took part in the Bosnian civil war.
The ICE investigation initially uncovered 16 individuals in six states who had been charged with fraudulently obtaining refugee status in the United States by concealing their service in the Bosnian Serb military in December 2006.
Maslenjak immigrated to the United States after failing to disclose his military service on his refugee application. He again failed to disclose his military service in 2004, when he applied to become a U.S. permanent resident. He received U.S. refugee status and U.S. permanent resident status based on his fraudulent applications. As a result, he was found guilty Oct. 2 on two counts of immigration fraud.
Maslenjak served in the VRS as a company commander with the rank of sergeant in the Bratunac Light Infantry Brigade of the Drina Corps during the summer of 1995. The International Criminal Tribunal of the former Republic of Yugoslavia seized military records following its investigation into allegations that the VRS was involved in acts of genocide and persecution against Bosnian Muslims in Srebrenica in July 1995. These records indicated that Maslenjak's brigade had taken part in committing acts of genocide and persecuting 7,000 to 8,000 Bosnian Muslim refugees. The Bosnian Conflict remains Europe's worst atrocity since World War II.
No evidence was presented that Maslenjak was personally involved in any acts of genocide or persecution.
"This case illustrates ICE's commitment to prosecuting individuals who entered the United States through fraudulent means," said Brian M. Moskowitz, special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Detroit. "Prosecuting these cases is vital to protecting the integrity of the nation's immigration system, and ensuring that those who seek U.S. protection can do so legitimately." Moskowitz's oversees the states of Ohio and Michigan.
Maslenjak's sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 8.
The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Phillip J. Tripi, and Michael J. Rendon, Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, Northern District of Ohio.
-- ICE --
