U.S. District Court Judge T.S. Ellis sentenced Islamic State member El Shafee Elsheikh, 33, to life in prison on Friday in a federal courtroom in Alexandria, Virginia, for his role in a hostage-taking plot that led to the beheadings of American journalists and aid workers in Syria.

The former British citizen was found guilty in April of charges that included lethal hostage-taking and conspiracy to commit murder.

(With input from Reuters)