United States of America v. Yalegwo Ki Sadongei

Asheville, North Carolina criminal law lawyer represented Defendant charged with second degree murder.



On December 13, 2019, Yalegwo Ki Sadongei, age 21, an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and the victim were at the residence of a family member of the victim, located on the Qualla Boundary within Indian Country. Over the course of the evening, Sadongei and the victim argued before Sadongei shot the victim in the chest and the victim died as a result of the gunshot wound. Court records show that, after shooting the victim, Sadongei fled the scene, then visited the home of another member of the victim's family to explain his version of what happened. On the way, he attempted to dispose of the firearm. Law enforcement later recovered the firearm Sadongei used to shoot the victim, a Hi-Point 9mm handgun, and a magazine.



Assistant U.S. Attorney John Pritchard of the U.S. Attorney's Office in Asheville prosecuted the case.



18:1111 and 18:1153 - MURDER, SECOND DEGREE

(1)

Defendant was sentenced to 168 months in prison.