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A West Virginia woman has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for lying to obtain U.S. citizenship after committing war crimes in Bosnia. Nada Radovan Tomanić, 53, was a naturalized U.S. citizen from Bosnia and Herzegovina who served with the Zulfikar Special Unit of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s.
During the armed conflict in the region, Tomanić participated in the severe physical and psychological abuse of Bosnian Serb civilian prisoners, including torture and inhuman treatment amounting to a war crime. When applying for U.S. naturalization in 2012, Tomanić falsely denied having served in a detention facility or in any other situation involving the detention of others.
The defendant's deception extended beyond her written naturalization application. During her interview with immigration officials, Tomanić lied about her past, claiming she had not committed a crime for which she had not been arrested. Specifically, she denied inflicting serious bodily harm under the Criminal Law of the Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia.
Tomanić's actions have sparked outrage and raised questions about the naturalization process. The case highlights the importance of thorough background checks and the need for individuals to be truthful about their past when applying for U.S. citizenship.
The sentence is a stark reminder that those who commit war crimes and then attempt to deceive the U.S. government will be held accountable. Tomanić's 30-month prison term is a just punishment for her crimes and a warning to others who may consider similar actions.
Source: Department of Justice