An Akron man is facing federal charges for concealing his military service in a unit implicated in war crimes during the brutal conflict in the former Yugoslavia. Ilija Josipovic, 59, was charged in a two-count criminal information with possession of immigration documents obtained through fraud, according to U.S. Attorney Carole S. Rendon for the Northern District of Ohio.
Josipovic possessed a Permanent Resident Card on Feb. 1, 2012, while obtaining an Ohio driver’s license at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles office located at 1030 East Tallmadge Avenue in Akron. Authorities allege he knew the green card was procured through false claims and statements. He again possessed the same fraudulent document on Sept. 10, 2014, at his residence in Akron.
At the heart of the case is Josipovic’s failure to disclose his service in the 6th Battalion, Zvornik Infantry Brigade, Army of the Republic of Srpska. According to federal prosecutors, he served from around May 25, 1992 until approximately 1996—a period marked by widespread atrocities in Bosnia. That unit has been linked to war crimes, including ethnic cleansing and mass killings, during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s.
By omitting this critical military history during immigration proceedings in 2002, Josipovic allegedly defrauded U.S. authorities to secure lawful permanent resident status. Immigration law bars individuals with ties to units responsible for atrocities from obtaining U.S. residency, making the concealment a serious federal offense.
The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations, part of the Department of Homeland Security. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason M. Katz. If convicted, Josipovic’s sentence will be determined by the court, weighing factors such as his role in the offense and any prior criminal record. While the statutory maximum applies, actual sentences often fall below that threshold.
It is important to note that the criminal information is merely a charge and not evidence of guilt. Josipovic is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law, where the government bears the burden of proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Related Federal Cases
Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
🔒 Get the grimiest stories delivered weekly. Subscribe free →
Browse More
MORE FEDERAL CRIME NEWS
US NewsUS NewsUS NewsUS News