11th Man Pleads Guilty to Piracy in Jean and Scott Adam Case

One of the 15 pirates linked to the deaths of four Americans—including parishioners Jean and Scott Adam—has pleaded guilty to acts of piracy, the U.S. Department of Justice announced.

Mounir Ali, a 23-year-old from Yemen, submitted his plea in a Norfolk federal court on Thursday. U.S. District Judge Mark S. Davis accepted the plea of acts of piracy against the S/V Quest, the boat on which the Americans were traveling.

Along with his plea, Ali, a.k.a “Muner Ali,” said he and four other Yemenis were part of the crew aboard the boat pirated by Somalis. Ali also admitted that, when the Somalis were capturing the S/V Quest, he joined them with the intention of obtaining part of the ransom money.

However, Ali said he did not shoot any of the four Americans or tell anyone else to do so.

Ten other pirates, all Somalis, have also pleaded guilty to the act of piracy. Authorities previously said the 15 men would be imprisoned for life if they were to be found guilty of the piracy charge.

Sentencing of Ali will take place Oct. 21. A jury trial is slated to begin Nov. 29.

“Mounir Ali admitted today that his greed for ransom money ultimately led to the cold-blooded murder of the four U.S. hostages," U.S. Attorney Neil H. MacBride said. "This latest guilty plea again shows that modern piracy is far different than the romantic portrayal in summertime movies. Pirates who attack on U.S. citizens on the high seas will face justice in a U.S. courtroom.”

“Today’s plea brings us one step closer to the resolution of the Quest’s hijacking and the brutal killing of four Americans," said Janice K. Fedarcyk, who is assistant director in charge for the FBI’s New York Field Office. "Armed with [rocket-propelled grenades] and automatic weapons, Ali willingly participated in this premeditated attack to pirate the Quest, in a vain attempt for ransom."

On Feb. 22, the four Americans were by pirates after their yacht was hijacked. Jean and Scott Adam had been on a multiyear sailing voyage on the S/V Quest, distributing Bibles around the world.

The charges of conspiracy to commit kidnapping and the use of a destructive device during a crime of violence carry a maximum life sentence. If they are convicted of the destructive-device charge, they would spend at least 30 years in prison; the charge would be consecutive to the other charges.

The previous indictment alleged that, on Feb. 18, the 14 pirates boarded the Quest yacht and held the Americans hostage for five days. The U.S. military was negotiating with the alleged pirates, but at least one of the alleged pirates aboard the Quest fired a rocket-propelled grenade at the U.S. Navy ship U.S.S. Sterett. At least three men on the Quest allegedly shot and killed all four of the hostages before they could be rescued.

The indictment also alleged that the pirates possessed a rocket-propelled grenade with three live rounds and several AK-47 and FAL assault rifles. It said the pirates threw other weapons overboard before being taken into custody.

The FBI and the Naval Criminal Investigative Service are still investigating the case. Members of the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division are handling the prosecution.

Jean and Scott Adam departed for their worldwide voyage in 2004. A funeral service was held for them at St. Monica early last month. Also in March, the St. Monica Music Ministry released a collection of music in their memory, with proceeds going to the Community Center Music Ministry Suite that will be built on the church's new campus.

Related stories:

• 15th Pirate Indicted in Case Involving Killings of Jean and Scott Adam

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Correction: Eleven, not 12, men have now pleaded guilty to acts of piracy.