The mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, and her bodyguard have been charged with fraud and corruption based on allegations of misappropriating public funds to support their relationship. Prosecutors claim the pair used secure communication methods to hide their activities, including unauthorized trips.
New Orleans Mayor and Bodyguard Face Serious Charges Amid Allegations of Corruption
New Orleans Mayor and Bodyguard Face Serious Charges Amid Allegations of Corruption
LaToya Cantrell and her bodyguard Jeffrey Vappie are entangled in a scandal involving fraud and misuse of public funds.
LaToya Cantrell, the mayor of New Orleans, along with her bodyguard Jeffrey Vappie, has been formally charged with fraud, corruption, and obstruction of justice amid troubling allegations that they misused public funds to support their romantic involvement. The charges were filed by federal prosecutors and revealed that Cantrell maintained a "personal, intimate" relationship with Vappie, a member of her protection team, starting in October 2021.
During this time, it is claimed that they engaged in numerous domestic and international trips while falsely reporting Vappie as being on duty, including 14 noted incidents. Prosecutors assert that both parties have evaded scrutiny by exchanging thousands of private messages using WhatsApp's auto-delete feature, thus concealing their activities from the public eye.
In addition to allegedly abusing city resources, prosecutors contend that the couple treated a city-owned apartment as their own residence while utilizing Vappie's official designation to justify his presence there. Reports indicate that they may have taken lavish personal trips—including a stint to a vineyard in California with a total cost exceeding $70,000—under the guise of security needs during the COVID pandemic.
Claims of intimidation and misconduct extend further, with allegations of perjury, false statements to a grand jury, and attempts to silence witnesses. If convicted, both Cantrell and Vappie may face years behind bars and hefty fines, highlighting the serious nature of these allegations. As the first female mayor in New Orleans’ 300-year history, Cantrell has been in office since 2018 and is expected to depart after her term ends in January.
