Somali Pirate Sentenced to Life for 2010 Attack of USS Ashland

NORFOLK, Va. – A Somali man was sentenced to life plus 10 years in prison today for engaging in piracy and committing other offenses pertaining to the attack on the USS Ashland, a U.S. Navy ship, in April 2010.

A federal jury convicted Mohamed Farah, 31, on Feb. 27, 2013. According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Farah and five co-conspirators attacked the USS Ashland on April 10, 2010. Four of Farah’s co-conspirators were previously sentenced for their roles in the attack: Jama Idle Ibrahim (15 years in prison), Mohamed Ali Said (33 years), Mohamed Abdi Jama (life plus 30 years) and Abdicasiis Cabaase (life plus 30 years).

These defendants had also previously gone to sea in February 2010 with the purpose of capturing another vessel for ransom, but they were instead intercepted by the HMS Chatham of the United Kingdom’s Royal Navy.

The remaining pirate from the attack on the USS Ashland, Abdi Abshir Osman, was sentenced to life plus 10 years.

Today’s announcement was made by Acting Assistant Attorney General for National Security Mary B. McCord, U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente for the Eastern District of Virginia, Special Agent in Charge Martin Culbreth of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office in Virginia, and Special Agent in Charge Maureen Evans of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Norfolk Field Office. The sentence was issued by U.S. District Judge Raymond A. Jackson.

This case was investigated by the FBI and the NCIS. Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph E. DePadilla and Trial Attorney Jerome Teresinski of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section prosecuted the case. Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Hatch prosecuted the case previously.

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 is located on the website of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia or on PACER by searching for Case No. 2:10-cr-57.