U.S. citizenship fraud charges have been filed against Miran Kostic, a 66-year-old Boise, Idaho, resident accused of concealing his alleged role in abusing prisoners during the Bosnian war while seeking to become a naturalized American citizen.
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U.S. Citizenship Update
The case was announced by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services on September 22, 2026, after the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho brought federal charges. The case follows a Justice Department announcement issued in July, which said a federal grand jury had returned the indictment the previous week.
Kostic is charged with attempted naturalization fraud and making material false statements to law enforcement agents. The indictment alleges that he repeatedly lied in his naturalization application and in interviews with the FBI and USCIS about his conduct in Bosnia and Herzegovina while pursuing U.S. citizenship.
The charges remain allegations. An indictment is not a finding of guilt, and Kostic is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt in court. The allegations will therefore be tested through the federal criminal process.
What prosecutors allege about the Bosnian prisoner abuse
According to court documents described by federal prosecutors, Kostic was a high-level official in the so-called Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia, or APZB, during the conflict in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Prosecutors allege that he participated in and directed severe mistreatment of prisoners. The allegations include pistol-whipping prisoners, beating them with wooden clubs, stakes and fists, and kicking them until they lost consciousness.
The indictment also alleges that Kostic forced prisoners to beat one another and ordered other APZB members to assault prisoners. USCIS described him as an accused war criminal, but that characterization reflects the government’s allegations and investigative findings rather than a criminal conviction in the United States.
The federal case also concerns alleged nondisclosure of criminal charges filed against Kostic in Bosnia and Herzegovina for war crimes. Prosecutors say those charges, along with his alleged conduct, were information he was required to disclose during the immigration and naturalization process connected to his naturalization application.
Why the naturalization application is central to the case
U.S. citizenship applicants must provide truthful information to immigration authorities and answer questions accurately during the naturalization process. Material lies or omissions can affect whether an applicant is eligible for naturalization and can create separate criminal exposure when the government alleges the false information was intentional.
In this case, prosecutors allege that Kostic concealed both his participation in prisoner abuse and conduct he ordered others to carry out. They also allege that he failed to disclose the war-crimes charges filed in Bosnia and Herzegovina while seeking naturalization.
The government further alleges that Kostic repeated false statements during interviews with the FBI and USCIS. Those statements form the basis of the separate charge alleging that he made material false statements to law enforcement agents during the naturalization process.
The allegations illustrate why USCIS reviews an applicant’s background, identity, immigration history and conduct during the statutory period for naturalization. The review can involve records from outside the United States and coordination with federal law-enforcement agencies when officials identify possible human-rights violations or inconsistencies in an application.
Federal charges and potential penalties
Kostic faces charges for attempted naturalization fraud and making material false statements to law enforcement agents. The Justice Department says each attempted naturalization fraud count carries a maximum sentence of up to 10 years in federal prison if the defendant is convicted.
The false-statements charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison. The statutory maximum is not an expected sentence and does not determine what punishment would apply after a conviction. Any sentence would be imposed by a federal judge after considering the applicable law, sentencing guidelines and case-specific factors.
The public charging documents, rather than the USCIS announcement alone, control the precise number of counts and factual allegations in the criminal case. The charges may also be contested through motions, trial proceedings or other court action involving the allegations.
Agencies involved in the investigation
USCIS said it provided vital assistance to the investigation. The case is being investigated by Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI, with coordination from several specialized units.
- USCIS’ Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate;
- the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center;
- the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit; and
- the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs.
The Justice Department said the Office of International Affairs helped secure evidence for the prosecution. Investigators also received assistance from the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals.
That cross-border cooperation is significant because alleged conduct from the Bosnian conflict occurred decades before the naturalization application and may require foreign records, witnesses and historical evidence. The government has not announced a conviction or final court determination in Kostic’s case.
What the case means for citizenship applicants
The case does not change the eligibility requirements for ordinary U.S. citizenship applicants. It does, however, underscore the importance of complete and accurate answers on Form N-400, the Application for Naturalization, and during the USCIS interview for U.S. citizenship.
Applicants should disclose relevant arrests, charges, convictions and other information requested by USCIS, even when an event occurred many years ago or in another country. Applicants who are uncertain about how to answer a question should seek advice from a qualified immigration attorney rather than guessing or omitting information in a naturalization application.
Applicants should also review their prior immigration filings for consistency. A discrepancy between a naturalization application and earlier visa, refugee, asylum or adjustment-of-status records can lead to additional questions and may affect eligibility for naturalization if the government determines that an earlier statement was knowingly false.
People with possible human-rights violations in their backgrounds may face especially serious immigration consequences. Depending on the facts, conduct can affect admissibility, refugee or asylum eligibility, permanent-resident status and naturalization eligibility. The legal analysis is fact-specific and should not be based solely on the existence of an allegation or an arrest.
How the criminal case may proceed
Kostic will have the right to appear in federal court, review the evidence through the criminal discovery process and challenge the charges. The prosecution must prove each required element beyond a reasonable doubt.
The criminal case is separate from any possible immigration or U.S. citizenship action. If USCIS determines that an application was not properly approved, the agency may take administrative steps allowed by law. If a person has already become a naturalized citizen, the Justice Department may separately seek denaturalization in a civil case when it alleges that citizenship was illegally procured or obtained through concealment or willful misrepresentation.
No denaturalization action against Kostic was identified in the USCIS announcement reviewed for this report. The current public development is the federal indictment alleging attempted fraud during the U.S. citizenship process and false statements to investigators.
Where to report suspected immigration or human-rights violations
USCIS directs the public to use its official tip form to report suspected immigration benefit fraud or abuse. Information about suspected human-rights violators in the United States may also be reported to the FBI or Homeland Security Investigations through their official reporting channels.
Reports should provide specific, credible information and should not be used to harass people based on nationality, ethnicity, political views or unverified rumors. Investigators, prosecutors and courts—not private individuals—determine whether conduct violates federal law or affects an application for U.S. citizenship.
Key facts at a glance
| Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Defendant | Miran Kostic, 66, of Boise, Idaho |
| Nationality identified by prosecutors | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Charges | Attempted naturalization fraud and making material false statements to law enforcement agents |
| Alleged conduct | Concealing alleged prisoner abuse, ordered abuse and war-crimes charges |
| Maximum penalties cited | Up to 10 years for each attempted naturalization fraud charge and up to five years for the false-statements charge |
| Investigation | HSI, FBI, USCIS and partner agencies |
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges does Miran Kostic face?
Federal prosecutors charged Kostic with attempted naturalization fraud and making material false statements to law enforcement agents. The allegations concern statements and omissions during his effort to obtain U.S. citizenship.
What does the indictment allege about Kostic’s conduct in Bosnia?
Court documents described by prosecutors allege that Kostic participated in and directed the abuse of prisoners while serving as a high-level official in the so-called Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia. These allegations have not been proven at trial.
What should naturalization applicants do if they are unsure how to answer Form N-400 questions?
Applicants should answer truthfully and completely and consult a qualified immigration attorney if they are unsure whether an arrest, charge, prior statement or overseas event must be disclosed.
Does an indictment mean Kostic has been convicted?
No. An indictment is a formal accusation. Kostic is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt in federal court.
Fact-Checked: This report was checked against the USCIS release dated September 22, 2026 and the related U.S. Department of Justice announcement describing the federal indictment and alleged conduct.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information and is not legal advice. Criminal charges are allegations, and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
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