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CHARLOTTE, NC - Jonathan "Ed" Taylor, former Principal Chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI), was accused of accepting bribes and tax evasion by Federal prosecutors, Taylor was still holding the highest office of the 11,000 member tribal nation. Taylor pleaded guilty to tax evasion, and could have been sentenced to five years along with a $100,000 fine.

On Tuesday, April 11, 2000, Jonathan Taylor was sentenced to six months of house arrest and probation, after U.S. District Judge Graham Mullen learned of Taylor's health problems. Taylor is a diabetic which is complicated by hypertension. Ken Bell, Assistant U.S. Attorney made no objections when Judge Mullen motioned to him for a response.

Taylor made no comment as he was leaving the federal courthouse, with the aid of a cane, accompanied by his wife, Cleo, and daughter, Edith Crow.

Taylor had admitted, in the plea agreement, that he should have paid $47,895 in taxes in 1994 on income of approximently $182,000. The joint return submitted by he and his wife stated they had made $71,930 and owed $15,199. Two other tax evasion counts, were dropped by the federal government after Taylor agreed to pay the back taxes.

Cleo Taylor is facing a charge of one count of perjury in conection with her testimony of April 1999, concerning the money. The pending charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.