Doctor charged with helping skip part of citizenship tests

CHICAGO (AP) - A Chicago doctor is accused of diagnosing patients with physical or mental conditions to bypass parts of the testing required for U.S. citizenship.

The U.S. Justice Department says 59-year-old Dr. Jasminka Kostic and a member of her staff, 47-year-old Nikki Pozdol, are each charged with one count of knowingly making false statements in a document submitted to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Kostic is also charged with one count of attempted unlawful procurement of citizenship or naturalization. Both charges are punishable by a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

An arraignment date is scheduled for April 13. Court records do not indicate either woman has hired an attorney. Neither Kostic nor Pozdol had listed telephone numbers. Kostic's office number has been disconnected.