A Minneapolis man has been sentenced to nearly two decades in prison for a sexual assault and kidnapping case that went unsolved for years until investigators reviewed evidence through the Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI).
Mohamud Hillow Bulle, 36, received a 235-month sentence on Wednesday after being convicted in October of two counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct and one count of kidnapping. Prosecutors had sought separate sentences of 187 months for the sexual assault charges and an additional 48 months for kidnapping — an unusually lengthy request meant to reflect the severity of the crime.
Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement that the sentencing marks an important step toward justice for the victim.
“Our thoughts are with the victim and her loved ones today, as Mr. Bulle is finally being held accountable for this terrible crime,” Moriarty said, adding that the long delay in resolving the case underscores the need to support survivors more effectively.
The breakthrough came after coordinated work by the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), and the Minneapolis Police Department. BCA forensic scientists and the county’s SAKI team identified Bulle earlier this year as part of their effort to test all previously unsubmitted sexual assault kits from Minneapolis police. That backlog has now been fully reviewed.
Bulle was granted 248 days of credit for time already served. The case — filed as 27-CR-25-5955 — stands as a reminder that even long-delayed investigations can lead to accountability when evidence is properly tested and pursued.
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