Man Sentenced to Prison for International Parental Kidnapping

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland man was sentenced today to 21 months in prison for international parental kidnapping.

According to court documents, federal agents with the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrested Faical Chebbi, 45, of Accokeek, on June 14 after he landed at Dulles International Airport. In November 2011, Chebbi removed his two children, then ages 2 and 5, from the United States and took them to Tunisia in violation of the parental rights of the mother.

According to the FBI, as a result of Chebbi’s return to the United States, both children have been reunited with their mother as ordered by the court. In addition to his prison sentence, Chebbi was also ordered to pay $119,807 in restitution.

Dana J. Boente, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, Andrew W. Vale, Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office, and Casey Owen Durst, Director of CBP’s Baltimore Field Office, made the announcement after sentencing by U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Haynes prosecuted the case.

The U.S. Department of State and the United States embassy in Tunisia provided assistance with this matter.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:11-cr-140.