New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has been indicted on federal charges of conspiracy, fraud, and obstruction for allegedly using over $70,000 in taxpayer money to conceal a romantic relationship with her police bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie. The indictment, unsealed on Friday, accuses the pair of engaging in an intimate relationship since October 2021, while Cantrell was still married.
Prosecutors allege that Cantrell and Vappie used city funds for romantic trips, including visits to Martha's Vineyard and California wineries, and that Vappie was paid for hours when he was not working. Encrypted WhatsApp messages were used to avoid detection, with exchanges referencing Scotland as 'where it all started.' Cantrell had previously justified her travel expenses as necessary for security during the pandemic.
The indictment also details how the pair met alone in a city-owned apartment in the French Quarter while Vappie was on duty. In April 2024, they were photographed at a dinner with empty wine glasses during Vappie's billed 12-hour shift. Surveillance footage corroborated their time together at the apartment.
Acting US Attorney Michael Simpson described the alleged scheme as 'an incredible betrayal of people's confidence in their own government,' rejecting claims that Cantrell was targeted due to her race or gender. Cantrell, who leaves office in January due to term limits, has not commented on the charges. Vappie, who retired from the police force in 2024, has pleaded not guilty to earlier charges of wire fraud and false statements.
