Bosnian Man in Idaho Charged with Lying to Obtain U.S. Citizenship
Published Sep 22, 2026
USCIS assisted an investigation that led to the indictment of Miran Kostic, a Bosnian national living in Boise, Idaho, on charges of attempted naturalization fraud and making false statements. Prosecutors allege Kostic concealed his role in abusing prisoners as an official of a wartime Bosnian entity and hid war crimes charges filed against him in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Key points
- Miran Kostic, 66, is accused of lying during his naturalization application and in interviews with the FBI and USCIS.
- Prosecutors allege he was a high-level official who personally abused prisoners and ordered others to beat them during the war in Bosnia.
- He is charged with attempted naturalization fraud and making material false statements to federal agents.
- If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for each naturalization fraud charge and up to five years for the false statements charge.
- The case involved ICE Homeland Security Investigations, the FBI, DHS's Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, and USCIS's Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate.
Who is affected
This case concerns an individual naturalized citizenship applicant accused of fraud, not the general public or routine applicants.
What to do
The public is encouraged to report suspected human rights violators or immigration benefit fraud through the FBI, ICE, or USCIS tip channels listed in the release.
Full text
The complete official text was archived on this site on 2026-10-12. It stays available here even if the source link changes or is removed.
Release Date
09/22/2026
BOISE, Idaho — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services provided vital assistance to an investigation that lead to the indictment of Miran Kostic, an alien and accused war criminal from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Kosic, 66, of Boise, Idaho, is charged with lying while trying to to obtain U.S. citizenship. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Idaho announced the charges.
According to court documents, Kostic was a high-level official in the so-called Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (APZB). In that role, he pistol-whipped prisoners; beat them with wooden clubs, stakes, and his fists; and kicked them, causing them to lose consciousness. Additionally, he forced prisoners to beat each other, and ordered other APZB members to beat prisoners. In his application to become a U.S. citizen and in interviews with the FBI and USCIS, Kostic repeatedly lied about the abuse he participated in and ordered, and failed to disclose charges filed against him in Bosnia and Herzegovina for war crimes, among other lies.
Kostic is charged with attempted naturalization fraud and making material false statements to law enforcement agents. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison for each charge of attempted naturalization fraud, and five years in prison for the false statements charge.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations and the FBI are investigating the case, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, USCIS’ Fraud Detection and National Security Directorate, and the FBI’s International Human Rights Unit. The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs provided significant assistance by securing the evidence for prosecution of Kostic. The Justice Department thanks the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United Nations International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals, which were instrumental in furthering the investigation.
Members of the public who have information about human rights violators in the U.S. are urged to contact the FBI at 800-CALLFBI (800-225-5324) or through the FBI’s online tip form or Homeland Security Investigations at 866-DHS-2-ICE (866-347-2423) or through ICE’s online tip form. To report suspected immigration benefit fraud or abuse to USCIS, please use the USCIS Tip Form.
For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on X, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook and LinkedIn.
09/22/2026
Original title: Bosnian Prisoner Abuser Charged with Lying to Get US Citizenship
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