Ex-Louisiana police officer pleads guilty to terrorism conspiracy

A former Marine and New Iberia police officer has pleaded guilty to a federal terrorism conspiracy charge, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Louisiana.

Prosecutors said Micah James Legnon, who also used the aliases “Kateri” and “Black Witch,” joined an anti-government group whose members discussed plans to carry out an explosive attack. On Tuesday, the 29-year-old pleaded guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists.

Court documents say Legnon joined a group called the Order of the Black Lotus in early 2025. The Justice Department describes the group as a faction of the Turtle Island Liberation Front, a radical anti-government organization whose members used encrypted messages to discuss attacks involving explosives. According to prosecutors, members had discussed building improvised explosive devices and planning an attack on a logistics facility in California.

Prosecutors say Legnon knew the group’s intentions and agreed to use his military experience to help carry out the planned attack.

Investigators say Legnon discussed making explosives with other group members throughout 2025 and saved a photo of an explosive device, along with instructions, on his phone.

Read more: WWL