Alexanda Amon Kotey, Hostage-Taking, Virginia 2021

Alexanda Amon Kotey, 36, and El Shafee Elsheikh, 32, two militant fighters for the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS), charged for their alleged participation in a brutal hostage-taking scheme that resulted in the deaths of four American citizens, appeared in federal court yesterday.

The defendants, who were charged for their alleged involvement in the hostage-taking scheme, made multiple appearances in federal court in Alexandria, Virginia. Both defendants waived their detention hearing and were remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals.

At 2:00 p.m. EST, both defendants appeared separately via video link for their respective arraignment hearings before Senior U.S. District Judge T.S. Ellis III. Both defendants waived formal readings of the indictment, pleaded not guilty, and requested a trial by jury.

Judge Ellis found that the case is unusual and complex, will require a considerable amount of discovery, and may include classified information. As such, Judge Ellis found that the ends of justice outweigh the interests of the public and the defendants in proceeding to trial within the 70-day deadline established by the Speedy Trial Act.

The next court appearance for both defendants is a status conference scheduled for January 15, 2021.

A copy of this press release is located on the website of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia. Related court documents and information are located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 1:20-cr-239.

Defendant: Alexanda Amon Kotey, El Shafee Elsheikh

Criminal Charges: Alleged participation in a brutal hostage-taking scheme that resulted in the deaths of four American citizens

City and State: Alexandria, Virginia

Date: December 0, 2020

Sentence or Outcome: Remanded to the custody of the U.S. Marshals

Full Name: Alexanda Amon Kotey, El Shafee Elsheikh

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/update-us-v-alexanda-amon-kotey-and-el-shafee-elsheikh-1