Mpls. Man Faces Life Sentence For 'Heinous' Kidnap, Rape & Robbery

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Hennepin County Attorney's Office says it took less than an hour for a jury to convict a Minneapolis man of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, kidnapping and armed robbery. Now, he's expected to be sentenced to life in prison without parole.

On Thursday afternoon, Mohamed Ali Elmi was found guilty on six felony counts in connection to the Aug. 4, 2015 incident.

On that day, Elmi – along with co-defendant Ismail Adam Abdo – robbed a young man and woman at gunpoint south of downtown Minneapolis. They then forced the woman into a car, took her to an ATM machine, and eventually brought her to the Riverside Park where he and Abdo sexually assaulted her.

The female victim told authorities that the men then drove away and left her alone in the park, which was unfamiliar to her. She was able to walk and get help at a gas station.

Investigators were able to lift a palm print from a bench at the crime scene and matched it with Elmi.

"This was a heinous crime that terrorized a young woman," Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman said. "We sought the indictment to make sure Mr. Elmi will never hurt anyone again. The jury agreed that he was guilty of the crimes and the factors necessary to require the judge to sentence him to life in prison."

Elmi will be sentenced on July 22.

Police are still seeking Abdo, who may have fled the country.