A man will be sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and rape of a woman in Minneapolis last August, Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said Friday.
The jury took less than an hour to convict Mohamed Ali Elmi of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and armed robbery.
Ismail Adam Abdo, a co-defendant, was charged with two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and first-degree robbery and a count each of second-degree criminal sexual conduct and kidnapping.
Police believe he has fled the country.
"This was a heinous crime that terrorized a young woman," Freeman said.
The jury found aggravating factors, including the use of a weapon, taking the victim from one place to another and releasing her in an unsafe place, and having two or more perpetrators. Elmi will be sentenced July 22.
Police talked to a man after midnight Aug. 4 who said he was standing in the alley outside 1831 2nd Av. S. with his friend, a young woman. Elmi walked up, pointed a gun and ordered them to give him all their money and electronics. While going through the woman's purse, Elmi noticed a bank card.
When Abdo pulled up in a car, Elmi forced the woman in and they took her to an ATM. After obtaining a small amount of money, they drove her to Riverside Park, where they sexually assaulted her, charges said.
