Washington ( CNN ) -- Three Somali men pleaded guilty on Friday to piracy and hostage-taking charges involving the yacht Quest , a February hijacking that ended with the death of four American citizens . Mohamud Hirs Issa Ali , Mohamud Salad Ali and Ali Abdi Mohamed -- all in their 30s -- entered guilty pleas in federal court in Norfolk , Virginia . The piracy and hostage-taking charges carry mandatory life sentences . In their plea agreements , the three men said , `` They played no role in the murder of the four United States citizens , '' according to a news release . Americans Scott and Jean Adams , Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle were found shot to death when U.S. forces boarded the yacht . The guilty pleas are an important step , said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge Janice Fedarcyk of the New York Field Office . `` Modern piracy is n't swordplay and derring-do ; it 's armed robbery and cold-blooded murder at sea . The FBI remains determined to see pirates brought to justice , '' she said . U.S. Attorney Neil MacBride said , `` If you pirate an American ship , you will be caught and you 'll face severe consequences in an American courtroom . ''
The hijacking of the yacht Quest in 30s ended with three deaths . The piracy and hostage-taking charges carry mandatory life sentences . The four American men deny any role in the deaths .