Jacob Strong of Thompson Falls, Montana, was located earlier this summer in Costa Rica and arrested on a United States District Court for the District of Montana Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution (UFAP) warrant issued on September 24, 2021. Strong’s 4-year-old son was also safely located and has since been reunited with his mother.

On June 14, 2022, Strong was transported by Costa Rican immigration officials to Miami where he was taken into custody by agents from the FBI Miami Field Office.

Strong and his mother, Candace Bright, have been indicted in the United States District Court for the District of Montana Missoula Division on two counts of Conspiracy to Commit International Parental Kidnapping and False Statements.

Bright, who lives in Andrews, Texas, was arraigned on June 28, 2022, appearing via camera from the George H.W. Bush And George W. Bush United States Court House And George Mahon Federal Building in Midland, Texas.

Strong was transported back to Montana and is scheduled to be arraigned in Missoula on Friday, August 19, 2022, at 9:30 a.m.

Numerous law enforcement and partner agencies were involved in this investigation to include the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Montana, Montana Department of Justice, FBI El Paso, FBI Legal Attache Panama City, FBI Seattle, Sanders County Prosecutors Office, Sanders County Sheriff’s Office, and FBI Miami.

The FBI would also like to thank the public for their tips.

Defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.