ISIS Militant Pleads Guilty to Role in Deaths of Four Americans in Syria
According to a Department of Justice press release dated September 2, 2021, Alexanda Amon Kotey, 37, a former British citizen turned Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) fighter, pleaded guilty to for his participation in a brutal hostage-taking scheme that resulted in the deaths of four American citizens as well as British and Japanese nationals.
James Wright Foley, Kayla Jean Mueller, Steven Joel Sotloff and Peter Edward Kassig were all US citizens who died in ISIS custody and Kotey specifically participated in the seizure, detention and hostage negotiations for them.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Mark J. Lesko for the Justice Department’s National Security Division said of the arrest, “This guilty plea ensures that Kotey will spend the rest of his life in prison for the horrific crimes he has committed. I want to thank all of the agents, analysts and prosecutors who worked tirelessly on this investigation and prosecution – their efforts are proof that the National Security Division and our partners will not rest in our commitment to hold accountable terrorists who target and attack U.S. citizens anywhere in the world.”
Kotey and two other ISIS terrorists were responsible for supervising and transporting hostages from ISIS jails and detention centers. During this time, Kotey subjected the hostages to physical and psychological abuse like forcing them to witness the executions of other hostages.
From August 2014 through October 2014, ISIS released videos depicting the beheadings of James Foley, Steven Sotloff and Kotey was involved in each of these executions. Kotey was part of a group of four ISIS members who spoke with British accents and were referred to by the hostages as the “Beatles.” He was captured in January 2018 by the Syrian Democratic Forces as he attempted to escape Syria for Turkey.
Executive Assistant Director Jill Sanborn of the FBI’s National Security Branch said of the admission of guilt by Kotey, “Alexanda Kotey’s admission of guilt does not lessen the pain suffered by these families and others whose loved ones were taken from them by this heinous terror group, but we hope that this announcement will bring them closer to the justice that they deserve. I am proud of the unwavering dedication and tireless efforts of the men and women of the FBI and all of our partners – both domestic and international – to see justice served for these acts of terrorism.”
Kotey faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on March 4, 2022 by Senior U.S. District Judge T. S. Ellis, III.