Swampscott Bosnia War Criminal Sentenced To 5 Years In Federal Prison

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — A Swampscott man who was convicted of concealing his true identity as a Bosnian war criminal for a quarter century was sentenced to more than five years in federal court on Wednesday.

Kernal Mrndzic, 52, was convicted of making false claims to become a refugee to the United States and ultimately to become a U.S. citizen. He was sentenced to 65 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

In October, Mrndzic was found guilty of conceal his involvement in the persecution of prisoners at the notorious Celebici prison camp in Bosnia and later gaining entrance into the U.S. and citizenship with by saying that he was a victim of war atrocities himself.

"For over two decades, Mr. Mrndzic evaded accountability for his participation in the persecution and torture of countless victims at the camp," U.S. Attorney Leah Foley said. "By holding him accountable for his lies and fraudulent conduct, this sentence reinforced our resolve to ensure that those responsible for war crimes and human rights abuses are identified, exposed and prosecuted.

"This case underscores that we will not allow our nation to be a refuge for those who seek to escape justice."

Foley said the government will be working to revoke Mrndzic's citizenship.

According to court documents, Mrndzic served as a supervisor of the guards at the Celebici prison camp in 1990s war. Twenty-one former detainees described Mrndzic as one of the most notable guards at the camp, who was widely known for his particularly vicious treatment of prisoners and his close association with the camp deputy commander.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said Mrndzic participated in the systematic and pervasive brutal torture and deprivation of basic human needs of hundreds of captive victims — some of whom were elderly — at the Celebici prison camp. For seven months, victims were forcibly detained with starvation rations and, at times forced into lightless, airless manholes that were sealed for hours at a time.

Victims also endured daily and nightly beatings that were administered by the guards at the camp — with baseball bats, wooden poles and rifle buts.

In his refugee application and interview, he falsely claimed that he fled his home after he was
captured, interrogated and abused by Serb forces, and could not return home for fear of future persecution. He was admitted to the U.S. as a refugee in 1999, and ultimately became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 2009.

"Through the brave testimony of the survivors of the Celebici prison camp, the persecution Mrndzic attempted to conceal was finally brought to light after over 30 years. Though we can never undo what the survivors endured, I hope this sentence brings some measure of justice, no matter how long delayed," said Michael J. Krol, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations, New England.