A former chief of the Fond du Lac Denesuline First Nation, who was convicted of defrauding his community of close to $300,000 earlier this year, was sentenced to three years in a federal penitentiary Friday.

The crimes were committed while Napoleon Mercredi was chief of the First Nation from 2009 to 2011 and involved mostly money that was supposed to be used for economic development purposes.

Defence was seeking a sentence of two years or less to be served in a provincial institution.

Mercredi, who is 64-years-old, is also responsible for repaying $120,000 in restitution over ten years and returning a vehicle he purchased with band funds.

The sentencing decision was handed down at Prince Albert Court of Queen’s Bench Friday afternoon by Justice Gary Meschishnick.

(PHOTO: Napoleon Mercredi. File photo.)