New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was indicted Friday on federal wire fraud and obstruction of justice charges related to an alleged yearslong coverup of a romantic relationship with a former police officer.
Cantrell, the first female mayor in the city’s 300-year history, developed a “personal, intimate relationship” with her bodyguard, Jeffrey Paul Vappie II, as early as October 2021, prosecutors allege.
From that time until his retirement in June 2024, the alleged couple defrauded the city of New Orleans and its police department by paying Vappie’s salary and expenses while he claimed to be on duty, but “was actually engaged in personal activities, often with Cantrell,” the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana said Friday in a news release.
During that time, the two took multiple steps to hide their scheme and “perpetuate their continued fraud,” including intimidating subordinates, lying to colleagues, deleting evidence and making false statements to the FBI, prosecutors said.
Cantrell and Vappie also allegedly arranged at least 14 domestic and international trips together, according to the indictment.
“These trips included trips to San Francisco, which Vappie and Cantrell decided to extend an extra day so they could visit a series of Napa Valley wineries,” prosecutors allege. “While Vappie was wine tasting, on April 9, 2022, he claimed to work, and was paid for working, a 15-hour day.”
About four months later, Cantrell said she would “make it happen” for Vappie to join her on a three-day trip to Washington, D.C., which they both agreed they “needed,” according to messages allegedly exchanged between the two on the secure platform WhatsApp.
After returning, Vappie “described the trip to Cantrell as ‘another leg on our journey’ as he declared his love for her and their physical relationship,” officials said.
Overall, the city paid more than $70,000 for his travel on these trips.
Cantrell, 53, is charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, making false statements and false declarations before a grand jury. The two-term Democrat is set to leave office in less than six months due to term limits.
Vappie, who was already facing charges for allegedly filing fraudulent payroll documents and making false statements, pleaded not guilty a year ago.
On Friday, a grand jury returned an 18-count indictment that added Cantrell to the case.
In a statement to the press, the City of New Orleans said it would not comment on the indictment until a review by the mayor’s attorney is complete.
With News Wire Services
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