Somali pirate sentenced to 2 life prison terms for role in yacht attack that killed 4 Americans

“A Somali pirate leader was sentenced this morning to two life prison terms for his role in the attack of a yacht that left four Americans dead.

U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis gave Mohamud Salad Ali two life terms to run concurrently, or together. Ali's lawyer said his client hopes to get out early in exchange for his cooperation with authorities.

Ali was one of the organizers of the pirate group last February as they embarked from Somalia on a quest to seize a ship. About 900 miles from their homeland, they spotted the American yacht Quest and seized it.

Ali was one of two pirates who boarded a Navy ship in an effort to negotiate a ransom. The Americans were killed as the neogtiations failed.”