Uces Nabbed for International Kidnapping

JACKSONVILLE, FL – Salih Zeki Uces, 39, learned today that a federal jury isn’t buying his excuses. The dual Turkish/United States citizen was found guilty of international parental kidnapping, a brazen act that saw him snatch his two-year-old child and attempt to flee to Turkey. Uces now faces a maximum sentence of three years in federal prison.

The feds say Uces was initially indicted on December 1, 2016, after his arrest at Miami International Airport on November 10, 2016. But the story goes back further. According to evidence presented at trial, Uces requested a seemingly innocent overnight visit with his daughter on September 16, 2016, promising a swift return. That promise was a lie.

Instead of returning the child, Uces took her straight to Jacksonville International Airport and embarked on a multi-flight journey to Adana, Turkey. But this wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. Days before, the prosecution revealed, Uces engaged in a calculated effort to cover his tracks. He rifled through his estranged wife’s apartment, stealing her passport. He also viewed a draft divorce petition in her email, confirming the end was near. A power of attorney was signed over to his brother, authorizing the sale of Uces’s car while he was overseas, and he emptied his safety deposit box.

Uces callously ignored his estranged wife’s pleas for the child’s return, holding out until he learned a state court had issued an arrest warrant. On November 10, 2016, he finally returned to the United States with the child, where he was immediately taken into custody by FBI agents. Thankfully, the child was swiftly reunited with her mother.

The investigation, led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, painted a clear picture of premeditation and disregard for the law. Assistant United States Attorneys Laura Cofer Taylor and Kelly Karase skillfully presented the case, securing the conviction. Sentencing is scheduled for June 5, 2017, leaving Uces to face the consequences of his actions.

This case serves as a stark reminder that attempting to circumvent legal custody arrangements and flee across international borders will not be tolerated. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this case and report on the sentencing. Uces’s actions highlight the devastating impact parental kidnapping has on children and families, and the commitment of federal agencies to bring perpetrators to justice.