A woman from Bosnia and Herzegovina who became a naturalized U.S. citizen was sentenced on April 9 in Bridgeport, Connecticut, to 30 months in prison for lying about her past criminal conduct in order to obtain U.S. citizenship.
The case highlights the importance of accurate information during the naturalization process and demonstrates law enforcement’s commitment to investigating human rights violations, regardless of when they occurred.
According to court documents and statements made in court, Nada Radovan Tomanić, 53, formerly of Hartford and now residing in West Virginia, served with the Zulfikar Special Unit of the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the armed conflict in the region in the 1990s. Authorities said she participated with other soldiers in abusing Bosnian Serb civilian prisoners through severe physical and psychological abuse that amounted to torture and a war crime.
When Tomanić applied for U.S. naturalization in 2012, she denied serving at a detention facility or being involved with detaining others. She also falsely stated that she had not committed any crimes for which she had not been arrested—including inflicting serious bodily harm under Yugoslavian law—both on her application forms and under oath during an interview with immigration officials.
“The defendant tortured and abused prisoners in Bosnia and then lied to U.S. immigration authorities to live in the U.S. and become a citizen,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva for the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “Human rights violators are not welcome in the United States. Thanks to the courage of the victims, and the diligence and dedication of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners, the defendant has been held accountable for exploiting our immigration system and evading responsibility for her crimes.”
U.S. Attorney David X. Sullivan for Connecticut said: “I sincerely appreciate the investigative work of our law enforcement partners both here in the U.S. and in Bosnia who have disregarded the passage of decades to ensure that justice is served… There is no statute of limitations for human decency.” FBI Special Agent P.J O’Brien added: “Over this investigation Tomanić’s violent history… came to light… we hope yesterday’s sentencing gives some measure of justice.”
Tomanić pleaded guilty on Nov. 10, 2025, admitting one count related to procuring citizenship contrary to law.
The FBI led this investigation along with Homeland Security’s Human Rights Violators Center (HRVWCC), Citizenship Services’ Office of Fraud Detection (FDNS), international agencies from Bosnia & Herzegovina as well as Serbia, UN bodies, federal prosecutors from Connecticut—and historians from DOJ’s Human Rights Section assisted as well.
Authorities encourage anyone with information about human rights violators living within United States borders contact either FBI or Homeland Security Investigations using their tip lines or online forms.