New Orleans Mayor and Bodyguard Face Serious Fraud Charges

LaToya Cantrell and Jeffrey Vappie charged with fraud and corruption, accused of using taxpayer money for personal activities during their intimate relationship.

The mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, alongside her bodyguard Jeffrey Vappie, now faces serious charges of fraud and corruption. Federal prosecutors allege that the duo exploited public funds stemming from their "personal, intimate relationship," which reportedly began in October 2021 while Vappie served as part of Cantrell's protection team.

According to the charging documents, the pair is accused of falsely claiming that Vappie was on duty during several instances when they were actually engaged in personal activities, including 14 domestic and international trips. Vappie is set to officially retire in June 2024, but he and Cantrell have yet to publicly address the allegations.

To cover their tracks, it’s claimed the pair utilized the secure messaging app WhatsApp, which allowed messages to disappear after viewing, fostering a scheme designed to conceal their relationship and alleged misdeeds. Federal prosecutors revealed that they treated a city-owned apartment as their shared residence while Vappie was ostensibly on duty, misleading the public on his actual activities.

Prosecutors detailed how Cantrell and Vappie conducted personal trips, such as a $70,000 outing to a vineyard in California, while Vappie was being paid as her security detail. Cantrell had previously asserted that external circumstances, including the Covid pandemic, necessitated the presence of her bodyguard during travel. However, prosecutors contest her claims and reference specific instances where she traveled alone.

US attorney Michael Simpson outlined that while their personal relationship itself isn't criminal, it signifies a longer-lasting fraudulent scheme that misappropriated public funds. Public scrutiny intensified when photographs surfaced of the couple dining together while Vappie was purportedly on duty, prompting Cantrell to file a police report against the photographer—an action that prosecutors have noted as part of their fraudulent conduct.

Further complicating matters are accusations of intimidation against subordinates, lying to FBI investigators, and perjuring themselves in front of a grand jury—actions that could lead to hefty fines and prison sentences should they be convicted. If found guilty, the penalties could involve multi-year sentences and fines reaching $250,000 (£184,000).

Serving since 2018, Cantrell has made historical strides as the first female mayor of New Orleans and is slated to step down from office in January.