UPDATE: Friday, 1 p.m.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is the first mayor in the city's 308-year history to be indicted on federal criminal charges.
The federal grand jury handed up the indictment just before 1 p.m. Friday. However, court officials have not yet announced what charges Cantrell is facing.
This is a developing story.
ORIGINAL STORY:
WWL First News has learned the federal grand jury looking into allegations of corruption by New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is meeting today.
Sources close to the Cantrell probe say the panel could deliver indictments today.
Last year, a grand jury indicted New Orleans businessman Randy Farrell in federal court, accusing him of conspiracy to commit fraud with a public official.
That public official wasn't named, but the description in the indictment left little doubt it meant the mayor.
Farrell is accused of getting Cantrell to fire a city employee who was investigating Farrell's building inspection company by buying her gifts, including tickets to the NFC Championship Game in January 2019.
Cantrell has hired a criminal defense attorney.
Grand jurors have also reportedly heard evidence related to the mayor's alleged affair with her now-former NOPD bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie.
Vappie already faces corruption charges.
Last year, grand jurors indicted Vappie on seven counts of wire fraud and making false statements to agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
He allegedly claimed he was on the clock at times when he was "engaged in personal activities, including carrying on a personal and romantic relationship" with Mayor Cantrell.
The grand jury may also be considering other evidence not related to Farrell or Vappie.