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Member of IS 'Beatles' expected to plead guilty in US courtroom

Alexanda Kotey, a member of the brutal Islamic State cell linked to the kidnapping and killing of Westerners, is expected to plead guilty to one or more of the charges against him.
US Attorney G. Zachary Terwilliger speaks to the press after a hearing for former British Islamic State fighters Alexanda Kotey and El Shafee Elsheikh, dubbed the "Beatles," at the US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, Oct. 9, 2020.

A former Islamic State (IS) member linked to the kidnapping and execution of several Americans is expected to change his plea to “guilty” in a federal courtroom on Thursday.

Court records show a “change of plea hearing” for Alexanda Kotey is scheduled at the Eastern District of Virginia federal courthouse in Alexandria on Thursday evening. Kotey, who was stripped of his British citizenship, has previously pleaded not guilty to hostage-taking and terrorism-related charges filed by the Justice Department last year. 

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