Two Men Sentenced in Columbus Crime Spree

Faisal Darod and Aden Jama have been sentenced to 25 and 13 years in federal prison, respectively, for their involvement in a 2023 crime spree in Columbus, Ohio, which culminated in a shootout on Interstate 70, leaving a police officer critically injured. The two men, along with a third accomplice, Abdisamad Ismail, participated in a series of armed robberies at locations including car dealerships, banks, and a GameStop. The crime spree ended with Ismail's death during a police confrontation, while the injured officer survived but faced severe injuries. Darod and Jama were apprehended shortly after the incidents, with Darod arrested in Columbus and Jama at Chicago O'Hare International Airport attempting to flee. Both men pled guilty to multiple charges, with Darod attempting to retract his plea unsuccessfully. The sentencing aims to serve as a deterrent to similar violent crimes in the future.