BREAKING: A former Connecticut resident has just pleaded guilty to fabricating her involvement in war crimes in order to secure U.S. citizenship. Nada Radovan Tomanic, 53, now of West Virginia, entered her plea on Monday in federal court in Bridgeport, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut.
This urgent development could have significant legal repercussions for Tomanic, who faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for February 3, where the court will determine the extent of her punishment.
Tomanic, originally from Bosnia and Herzegovina, served with the Zulfikar Special Unit during the 1990s, a time marked by violent armed conflict. Federal officials revealed that she participated in the “physical and psychological abuse” of Bosnian Serb civilian prisoners, raising serious questions about her past actions.
When applying for naturalization in 2012, Tomanic denied any involvement in detention facilities or any situations involving the detention of others. Moreover, she falsely claimed not to have committed serious crimes, specifically denying any past criminal conduct under the laws of the former Yugoslavia.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti stated, “The defendant obtained the privileges of U.S. citizenship through lies and deceit, concealing the violent crimes she committed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.” This case raises alarms about the integrity of immigration processes and the potential threats posed by individuals who manipulate these systems.
During her naturalization interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officer, Tomanic continued to lie under oath regarding her military service and criminal conduct. U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan condemned her actions, emphasizing that “covering up past human rights abuses to attain U.S. citizenship is an egregious offense.”
This case not only exposes individual deceit but also highlights broader implications for the immigration system. Special Agent in Charge P.J. O’Brien of the FBI remarked, “Individuals who lie on their naturalization documents undermine the process for all who justly apply to be a part of our great nation.”
The investigation into Tomanic’s case involved collaboration between the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Office of Fraud Detection and National Security. Their ongoing efforts aim to uphold the integrity of the immigration process against those who exploit it.
As this story develops, the implications for immigration policies and the accountability of those who commit human rights abuses continue to be of paramount importance. Tomanic’s case serves as a critical reminder of the necessity for ethical standards in the naturalization process.
Stay tuned for further updates on this case and its impact on U.S. immigration laws.
