Passenger Pleads Guilty to Sexually Abusing Teen on Carnival Cruise
The criminal complaint did not name the Carnival vessel, but said the November 18, 2023 sailing visited Mexico before returning after two days at sea.
Kendrick White Sr., 43, has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 15-year-old passenger during a Carnival Cruise Line sailing from New Orleans, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana said in a May 26 release. The cruise departed Nov. 18, 2023, visited Mexico and returned to New Orleans after two days at sea.
The case involves a passenger-on-passenger assault allegation aboard a cruise ship that a criminal complaint filed in August identified as operated by Carnival Cruise Line. The complaint did not name the vessel.
According to the court filing, White continued making advances after the teenager repeatedly declined. In a police statement described in the filing, the victim identified White as her assailant and named one of White’s sons as a witness.
Carnival Corp., Carnival Cruise Line's parent company, had not commented publicly on the case.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said White faces up to 15 years in prison. He also faces lifetime supervised release, a fine of up to $250,000, possible sex offender registration and a mandatory $100 special assessment fee per count.
White is scheduled to be sentenced Sept. 1.
