From the website: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce/press/2007-Sep-14.html

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Friday - September 14, 2007

RALEIGH - At 9:00 AM this morning before US District Court Judge James C. Dever, III,
Defendant Allison Lee Quets, in the presence of counsel, entered guilty pleas to both
counts of International Kidnapping contained in the Indictment pending against her.
Quets had become impregnated at age 47 as a result of an in vitro fertilization procedure
using donated egg and sperm. During the pregnancy, the defendant sought to have the
children adopted and succeeded in identifying a willing couple residing in North Carolina.
The negotiations which ensued nearly collapsed when the adoptive parents were unable to
meet Quets’ demand for reimbursement for expenses related to the in vitro procedure. The
birth took place on July 6, 2006. The adoption procedure took place on 8/16/06 and was
accomplished pursuant to Florida law and with counsel for the defendant. Shortly after
signing the required documents and releasing the children to the custody of the adoptive
parents, the defendant changed her mind and asked for the children back. The adoptive
parents declined and litigation ensued. On June 29, 2006, the Circuit Court in Florida
issued a 26-page decision awarding custody to the adoptive parents and rejecting all of
the defendant’s claims. The defendant appealed. While the appeal was pending,
consistent with the terms of the adoption, the defendant was permitted visitation. The
Court order specified that every third week, visitation could occur within the vicinity of the
adoptive parents’ home. Shortly after the defendant took custody for visitation purposes
on the afternoon of December 22, 2006, she proceeded to drive north to the Canadian
border. It was subsequently determined that she had crossed into Canada on the morning
of December 23, 2006, with plans for an overnight stay in Kingston, Ontario. An extensive
search was initiated by the FBI shortly thereafter which resulted in the issuance of
Provisional Arrest Warrant by Canadian authorities. The defendant was found with the
children in Ottawa on December 29, 2006. She had leased a private residence for a 6-
month term. Evidence was subsequently developed that the defendant had planned the
abduction several months in advance. Unbeknownst to the adoptive parents, she had
obtained passports for the children in her name, represented herself as having full
custody, made plane reservations for an earlier date, sought contacts in Canada including
seeking a Canadian immigration attorney, and made inquiry concerning extradition
procedure.
From the date of her Initial Appearance in the United States on January 17, 2007, until her
guilty plea today, the defendant has been held in pre-trial detention. In light of her guilty
plea, her expressed desire to cooperate, and the length of her detention, the Government
withdrew its request for detention, and the defendant was released on conditions pending
sentencing. The matter is currently set for sentencing on December 17, 2007, in Raleigh.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce
within 48 hours of release.
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From the website: http://www.newsobserver.com/content/media/2007/12/18/quets%
20news%20release.pdf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TUESDAY - December 18, 2007

QUETS SENTENCED FOR INTERNATIONAL KIDNAPING

RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E. B. Holding
announced today that ALLISON LEE QUETS was sentenced to five years
probation by United States District Court Judge James C. Dever,
III. The sentence was imposed as the result of QUETS’ guilty plea,
entered September 14, 2007 to charges of international kidnaping.
Judge Dever’s order places substantial restrictions on QUETS during
that probationary period. Among the restrictions ordered by the
Court is a requirement that QUETS have no contact with the children
she kidnaped or the adoptive parents who have legal custody of
those children during the term of probation unless contact is
ordered under state law. If such contact is ordered by the state
court, then it must be supervised by the United States Probation
Office. QUETS was also ordered to pay a fine of $15,000.00.
As set forth in Court documents and at the plea and sentencing
hearings, QUETS had become impregnated at age 47 as a result of an
in vitro fertilization procedure using donated egg and sperm.
During the pregnancy, QUETS sought to have the children adopted,
and succeeded in identifying a willing couple residing in North
Carolina. The negotiations which ensued nearly collapsed when the
adoptive parents were unable to meet QUETS’ demand for
reimbursement for expenses related to the in vitro procedure. The
birth took place on July 6, 2006. The adoption procedure took
place on August 16, 2006 and was accomplished pursuant to Florida
law and with counsel for the defendant. Shortly after signing the
required documents and releasing the children to the custody of the
adoptive parents, the defendant changed her mind and asked for the
children back. The adoptive parents declined and litigation
ensued. On June 29, 2006, the Circuit Court in Florida issued a
26-page decision awarding custody to the adoptive parents and
rejecting all of the defendant’s claims. The defendant appealed.
While the appeal was pending, consistent with the terms of the
adoption, the defendant was permitted visitation. The Court Order
specified that every third week visitation could occur within the
vicinity of the adoptive parents’ home here in North Carolina.
Shortly after the defendant took custody for visitation purposes on
the afternoon of December 22, 2006, she proceeded to drive north to
the Canadian border. It was subsequently determined that she had
crossed into Canada on the morning of December 23, 2006, with plans
for an overnight stay in Kingston, Ontario. An extensive search
was initiated by the FBI shortly thereafter which resulted in the
issuance of a Provisional Arrest Warrant by Canadian authorities.
The defendant was found with the children in Ottawa on December 29,
2006. She had leased a private residence for a 6-month term.
Evidence was subsequently developed that the defendant had planned
the abduction several months in advance. Unbeknownst to the
adoptive parents, she had obtained passports for the children in
her name, represented herself as having full custody, made plane
reservations for an earlier date, sought contacts in Canada
including seeking a Canadian immigration attorney, and made inquiry
concerning extradition procedures.  From the date of her Initial Appearance in the United
States on January 17, 2007, until entry of her guilty plea, the defendant was held in pre-
trial detention. At that time the defendant was
released on bond.
Mr. Holding commented on today’s sentencing, “Today’s
sentencing hearing concludes a troubling criminal case and a
harrowing experience for two children and their adoptive parents.
This time last year federal agents were involved in an
international manhunt looking for two missing children on behalf of
adoptive parents fearful of the worst. Today, those children are
safe with those adoptive parents and Ms. Quets, who absconded with
them is a convicted felon, has served eight months in jail, and
will now be under the supervision of the Court for five years.
Judge Dever’s decision should bring some peace of mind to the
victims in this case.”

Investigation of the case was conducted by Federal Bureau of
Investigation. Assistant United States Attorney John Bowler was
prosecution for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at
www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce within 48 hours of release.