ISIS "Beatle" pleads guilty pleads guilty in connection to the hostage taking and death of U.S. citizens

A former member of an ISIS cell known as "the Beatles" pleaded guilty in a federal court in Alexandria, Virginia, on Thursday for his role in the torture and brutal killings of western hostages, including American citizens.

In a statement, Alexanda Amon Kotey, a former British national, told the court that he left the United Kingdom because he believed "Islamic jihad was a valid and legitimate cause." He said while he was with ISIS he came in contact with four Americans and three British citizens, who were later killed by the group, among other European citizens. Kotey subsequently pleaded guilty to four counts of hostage-taking resulting in death, one count of conspiracy to commit hostage taking resulting in death, two counts of conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists resulting in death and one count of conspiracy to murder United States citizens outside of the U.S.