New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell (AP image)
A federal grand jury on Friday indicted New Orleans mayor LaToya Cantrell on charges of conspiracy, fraud and obstruction, stemming from allegations that she tried to hide a romantic relationship with her bodyguard.The indictment marks the conclusion of a multi-year federal investigation into Cantrell, the city’s first female mayor in its 300-year history.Her bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, has pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and making false statements. Prosecutors allege that Vappie hid the relationship with Cantrell while submitting false payroll records claiming he was on duty. Vappie, who retired from the police department last year, is scheduled to stand trial in January.Federal authorities say Cantrell and Vappie exchanged encrypted messages through an app to avoid detection and deleted the conversations afterward. Both have maintained that their relationship was strictly professional.Acting US Attorney Michael Simpson described the case as a “three-year fraud scheme that we allege exploited their public authority and positions.” He said Cantrell arranged for Vappie to attend 14 trips, claiming these were occasions when they were “truly alone.” The indictment states that in 2021, Cantrell and Vappie “developed a personal and intimate relationship” and allegedly used their public positions to hide it and create opportunities to spend time together. Simpson added that Cantrell falsely claimed in a 2021 affidavit that her phone automatically deleted messages, when the function was only activated in December 2022 after media scrutiny.Following photos taken by a private citizen showing Cantrell and Vappie dining together and drinking wine, Cantrell reportedly filed a police report and sought a restraining order.Cantrell will leave the office in January. Her second term has been marked by clashes with City Council members and a failed recall effort in 2022.“This is a sad day for the people of New Orleans,” said Monet Brignac, a spokesperson for City Council President JP Morrell. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cantrell family as they navigate through this difficult time.”Cantrell has not posted on her X account since July 15, when she reported that there have been historic declines in crime in the city. Political observers note that her public profile has diminished in recent months due to disputes with the city council and restrictions on her executive powers approved by voters.Cantrell and her supporters argue that she has been unfairly targeted as a Black woman and held to a different standard than male officials. Earlier this year, she described some of the treatment she received as “very disrespectful, insulting, in some cases kind of unimaginable.”
