New Orleans Man Guilty of Federal Offense for Sexually Abusing Fifteen-Year-Old Female Aboard Cruise Ship

NEW ORLEANS - KENDRICK WHITE, SR. ("WHITE") age 43, a resident of New Orleans, pleaded guilty on May 26, 2026, before United States District Judge Darrel James Papillion to committing sexual abuse, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 2242(3), announced U.S. Attorney David I. Courcelle.

According to court documents, WHITE and three relatives, two of whom were minors, traveled on a commercial cruise ship that departed out of New Orleans on November 18, 2023, and returned on November 22, 2023. Minor Victim, a female born in or around January 2008 (who was fifteen years old at the time), was also a passenger on the cruise. While aboard the vessel, Minor Victim met two of WHITE's minor-aged relatives.

While the boat was in international waters, on or about November 22, 2023, WHITE approached Minor Victim and told her that one of his minor-aged relatives was in his cabin and wanted to see Minor Victim. WHITE brought Minor Victim to the cabin and then instructed his minor-aged relative and Minor Victim to engage in sexual intercourse. Both declined. WHITE then brought Minor Victim into the hallway and offered to pay Minor Victim to take his minor-aged relative's virginity. When Minor Victim refused, WHITE pulled at Minor Victim's waist band and looked down her pants. Minor Victim pushed WHITE's hand away, at which point WHITE proceeded to put his hand down Minor Victim's pants and into her underwear.

After WHITE pulled his hand out of Minor Victim's pants, he pushed Minor Victim into the cabin, pulled down Minor Victim's pants, and ordered his minor-aged relative to take off his pants. WHITE then proceeded to perform a series of sexual acts on Minor Victim and forced Minor Victim to perform various sexual acts on WHITE and WHITE's minor-aged relative.