A Florida judge ordered on Tuesday the jailing of a 77-year-old man whom prosecutors want to question about his activities during World War II. The judge ordered that Vytautas Gecas be held for up to 18 months or until he responds to allegations that he served with a Nazi-sponsored Lithuanian unit that murdered thousands of Jews and others during the war. Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department reported developments regarding two other men who belonged to the same unit: A Chicago court ordered the deportation of Juozas Naujalis of Chicago for his wartime activities, and Kazys Ciurinskas, of Indiana, agreed to leave the United States permanently next week rather than face deportation.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.