Mayor LaToya Cantrell is indicted with 18 federal charges
By ALAN SMASON, Special to the CCJN
Federal authorities indicted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, the first female to occupy the office, on 18 charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, obstruction of justice and making false declarations before a grand jury. Cantrell was indicted along with her alleged paramour and bodyguard, New Orleans Police Department officer Jeffrey Paul Vappie II.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell. (Photo by Alan Smason)
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael M. Simpson made the announcement earlier this afternoon and elaborated further on the charges before a hastily assembled press conference.
Cantrell and Vappie were both charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice, all violations of Title 18 of the United States Code. Vappie was charged with 12 counts of wire fraud, while Cantrell was additionally charged in six of those counts. The two were charged with making false statements to the FBI and making false declarations to a grand jury,.
The indictments allege that Cantrell “developed a personal, intimate relationship” with Vappie, a member of her executive protection team “as early as October of 2021” and that much of the criminal counts stem from their attempts to cover up the nature and extent of their relationship, exchanging over 15,000 WhatsApp messages, pictures and audio clips over an eight-month period, deleting evidence and making false statement to FBI agents and committing perjury before an investigating grand jury. It is also alleged that the couple intimidated subordinates in the city’s administration and harassed at least one private citizen
The alleged affair took place both in New Orleans and over the course of several out-of-state trips as part of Cantrell’s official duties as mayor. The two are charged with treating a city-owned apartment in the historic Pontalba Apartment Building as a personal residence during times when Vappie was supposed to be paid as a city employee. It was further alleged that Cantrell cancelled several city events in order to engage in personal and intimate contact with Vappie.
Vappie took an early retirement from the N.O.P.D. in June of 2024.
It is further alleged that Cantrell made arrangements for Vappie to accompany her on 14 domestic and international trips in flagrant abuse of city policy. These include a trip to Napa Valley, California for a series of wine tastings and a three-day trip to Washington, D.C. It is alleged that the cost in payouts to Vappie was $70,000 from the City of New Orleans to cover these trips and pay him for his service.
Simpson stated that the couple attempted to delete many of the 15,000 WhatsApp messages to cover up their alleged affair and that they were aware that much of their conduct was criminal in nature. It is alleged the conduct continued until Vappie’s retirement.
Both Cantrell and Vappie each face up to five years in prison on the conspiracy to commit wire fraud charge and up to 20 years in prison for each count of wire fraud. They also face up to 20 years on each of the conspiracy to obstruct justice countsdddddd. Vappie faces five years for making a false statement to the F.B.I., while Cantrell is also subject to five years for making false statments to a grand jury,
The pair each face a fine of up to $250,000.
City officials refused to comment on the charges, saying they had to first read over the 45-page indictment.
