Politics & Government

Lawrenceville Man Pleads Guilty to Immigration Crime

Zeljko Zekic lied to officials about his residence and employment during the Bosnian war, according to the U.S. Justice Department.

A 48-year-old Lawrenceville man who served in the Serbian paramilitary police during the 1992-95 Bosnian War pleaded guilty Tuesday to lying to immigration officials about his background, the U.S. Justice Department said in a news release.

Zeljko Zekic had filed paperwork saying that he was unemployed and living in the Serbian Republic, disguising his true role in the conflict under accused war criminal Ratko Mladic, according to the release.

U.S. Attorney Sally Quillian Yates charged that Zekic and his family applied for refugee status in the United States in 2002 and eventually were allowed to move here based on the false information. Zekic later received a green card and is now a permanent resident alien, according to the release.

Find out what's happening in Tuckerwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Later research by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Unit determined Zekic had lied about his background. According to the release, Zekic was a master sergeant with a police force inside a Serbian-controlled Bosnian town during the entire conflict.

Because of war crimes committed during the conflict, all adult male Serbs who had lived in Bosnia during that time and sought U.S. refugee status were checked for any connection to Republic of Serbia Army units. Zekic's false statements prevented a proper background investigation at the time he applied for refugee status, the Justice Department said.

Find out what's happening in Tuckerwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Zekic is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Timothy C. Batten Sr. on Aug. 16. He faces up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. Zekic is also in removal proceedings before an immigration court, the release said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here