Barberton Man To Be Deported For Lying About His Legal Status

AKRON, OH -- A Barberton man will be deported after pleading guilty to lying about his actions during the war in the former Yugoslavia, said U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman and Steve Francis, Special Agent in Charge of HSI’s Detroit office.

Oliver Dragic, 42, pleaded guilty to possessing and fraudulently obtained immigration documents. Under the terms of his plea agreement, he will be deported.

Dragic failed to disclose his paramilitary police service for the Republika Srpska, a rogue state unrecognized by the international community that attempted to create an ethnically pure Serbian nation within the ethnically-mixed territory of the Yugoslav Republic of Bosnia-Herzegovina. Dragic completed police training in Serbia in 1994 and returned to Bosnia, where he voluntarily joined a special police unit that joined in Republika Srpska’s army during military operations, according to court documents.

Dragic applied for refugee status in the U.S. in May 1998, claiming he was a victim of the Bosnian war. He claimed in that application that he had never worked, when in fact he had served in the paramilitary unit, according to court documents.

“This defendant claimed to be a refugee but served in a paramilitary force during the war in the former Yugoslavia,” Herdman said.

“The investigation, prosecution and ultimate removal of individuals like Dragic are paramount to the mission of Homeland Security Investigations and to the safety our communities,” Francis said.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Cronin is prosecuting the case following an investigation by HSI Special Agent Brett Bangas and Historian Michael MacQueen.

Members of the public who have information about foreign nationals suspected of engaging in human rights abuses or war crimes are urged to contact HSI by calling the toll-free tip line at 866-347-2423 or internationally at 001-1802-872-6199. They can also email HRV.ICE@ice.dhs.gov

Image Via Shutterstock