Charenton Man Pleads Guilty To Larceny At The Chitimacha Tribal Reservation

LAFAYETTE, La. –United States Attorney Stephanie A. Finley announced that Kendrick T. Edmond, 21, of Charenton, La., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Hanna to larceny occurring at the Chitimacha Tribal Reservation.
           
According to evidence presented at the guilty plea, Edmond admitted to entering the Chitimacha Trading Post, which is within the Chitimacha Tribal Reservation, on March 31, 2013, and removing cancer donations from the register counter.  The donations had been provided to defray the medical expenses of a member of the Sovereign Nation of the Chitimacha.

Edmond faces up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release, restitution, and a $100,000 fine.

Jurisdiction in Indian Country is based upon the unique sovereign relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes.  Congress has criminalized certain acts that take place in Indian Country.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes all felony and misdemeanor cases, arising in Indian Country, that are within the jurisdiction of this office.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes cases, arising in Indian Country, involving felonies where either the defendant or the victim is an Indian or both the defendant and the victim are Indian.  The U.S. Attorney’s Office also prosecutes cases involving misdemeanors where the defendant is a non-Indian.

The Chitimacha Tribal Police Department conducted the investigation.  Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. McCoy is prosecuting the case.