Man Arrested for International Parental Kidnapping

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – A Maryland man made his initial appearance in federal court this afternoon on charges of international parental kidnapping.

Federal agents with the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) arrested Faical Chebbi, 45, of Accokeek, last night after he landed at Dulles International Airport. According to the court documents, 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.

Chebbi faces a maximum penalty of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine, if convicted. Actual sentences for federal crimes are typically less than the maximum penalties. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after taking into account the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

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. Assistant U.S. Attorney Patricia Haynes is prosecuting the case.

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-mj-1015.

A criminal complaint contains allegations that a defendant has committed a crime. Every defendant is presumed to be innocent until and unless proven guilty in court.