Community Corner

Another Somali Pirate Sentenced in Jean and Scott Adam Case

Eleven pirates hijacked the Quest and killed four Americans on board.

A fifth Somali pirate responsible for the death of Jean and Scott Adam in Africa was sentenced Friday to life in prison, according to the Associated Press

Said Abdi Fooley had pleaded guilty to piracy, a conviction that carries a mandatory life sentence. He and 10 other men hijacked the Quest, the Adam’s yacht, off the coast of Africa in February 2011.

The pirates killed the Marina del Rey couple and their friends Bob Riggle and Phyllis Macay of Seattle.

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“Fooley put four Americans’ lives in danger to get tens of thousands of dollars in ransom money,” said US Attorney Neil H. MacBride in a May 2011 press release, when Fooley pleaded guilty to the hijack. “Tragically, their hostages were executed before they could be rescued, and the Somalis were taken from the high seas to face American justice in an American courtroom.”

At the time, Fooley admitted that he was looking for a job as a pirate and thought he could receive about $75,000 for hijacking ships. He carried a a semi-automatic assault rifle aboard the Quest.

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Fooley told prosecutors last year that he did not personally shoot any of the four Americans, nor instruct anyone to shoot the hostages.

Jean and Scott Adam, who were parishioners at .

Three other men face murder charges for the deaths. Four others have also been sentenced to life behind bars and the remaining two have yet to be sentenced.


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