March 23, 2015

Woman Sentenced to a Year in Federal Prison for Actively Concealing International Parental Kidnapping

The United States Attorney’s Office today announced the sentencing of Cori Lynn Mancuso on the charge of misprision of felony arising from the international parental kidnapping of three children to Saudi Arabia.

On March 19, 2015, U.S. District Court Judge Matthew W. Brann sentenced Cori Lynn Mancuso to imprisonment for a period of one (1) year followed by a two (2) year period of supervised release, and a special assessment of $100. Judge Brann directed that Mancuso be taken into custody following sentencing to begin service of the prison term.

According to United States Attorney Peter Smith, Mancuso previously pleaded guilty to a felony criminal information charging misprision of felony before Judge Brann on October 2, 2014. The information alleged that Mancuso actively concealed the kidnapping by Majed Sayed of his three minor sons in violation of a child custody and visitation order issued by the Lycoming Court of Common Pleas. According to the information, Sayed flew with the children to Saudi Arabia after picking them up for a scheduled visitation. The information charged that Mancuso, who is not the children’s mother, lied to the FBI and another individual concerning the whereabouts of the children and Sayed. On April 10, 2014, Mancuso and Sayed were indicted by a federal grand jury in Williamsport on international parental kidnapping and conspiracy charges. Mancuso pleaded guilty after entering into a plea agreement with the government. The charges against Sayed in the indictment remain open.

Mancuso resided in Williamsport at the time the children were abducted, but lived in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania at the time of sentencing. Sayed, age 35, is presently living in Saudi Arabia with the children. Mancuso, age 22, was arrested at JFK International Airport on April 1, 2014 after arriving on a flight from Saudi Arabia.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Prosecution is assigned to Assistant United States Attorney George J. Rocktashel.