UPDATE: Friday, 2:40 p.m.
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and her former bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, are accused of bilking New Orleans taxpayers out of $70,000 for trips they took together under the guise of Vappie providing security to Cantrell when she traveled for official business.
Federal prosecutors levied those allegations in the indictment handed up against Cantrell Friday afternoon. Cantrell is facing 14 counts of wire fraud and one count each of conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct justice, obstruction of justice, false statements, and false declaration before grand jury charges.
Read the full indictment below:
According to the indictment, Cantrell and Vappie knew their conduct "violated rules, policies, and criminal laws." That's why, prosecutors said in the indictment, they "attempted to distract and impede inquiries and investigations, including a federal grand jury investigation, about the true nature and circumstances of their relationship and their scheme to defraud."
In an unusual move, Cantrell testified before the federal grand jury in June 2024. Investigators maintain she lied to the grand jury during that appearance and perjured herself, leading to additional crimes.
Prosecutors also say Cantrell and Vappie also used the encrypted messaging platform WhatsApp to hide information about their relationship. In addition, prosecutors accused Cantrell and Vappie of "intimidating and punishing subordinates, lying to colleagues and advisors, making false public pronouncements, (and) harassing a private individual who took pictures of them in public together" to cover up their relationship. That intimidation, prosecutors allege, include demanding interim NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork put Vappie back on Cantrell's security details. Prosecutors say when Woodfork refused, Cantrell told Woodfork she would be removed from her post.
The "private individual" referenced is Anne Braud, whom Cantrell unsuccessfully sued for stalking. Braud lived in the Pontalba Apartments across the street from a restaurant where Cantrell and Vappie dined. Braud snapped photos of them and published them, raising further questions about the nature of their relationship and whether Vappie was courting Cantrell on city time.
"In or around October 2021, Cantrell and Vappie developed a personal and intimate relationship," the indictment states. "To hide their relationship from detection and to maximize their time together, Cantrell and Vappie exploited their public positions to develop and implement a scheme to defraud the City of New Orleans and the New Orleans Police Department by engaging in personal activities while Vappie claimed to be on duty, and was paid for, providing protection for Cantrell.
"As part of their scheme, Cantrell and Vappie arranged for Vappie to accompany Cantrell when she traveled outside the State of Louisiana on official business. Cantrell falsely claimed she needed protection from members of the (NOPD's) Executive Protection Unit while travelling due to safety concerns. Cantrell and Vappie orchestrated out-of-state trips to maximize their opportunities to engage in personal activities. In total, Vappie's trips with Cantrell cost the City of New Orleans over $70,000, separate from Cantrell's own travel costs."
According to acting Jonathan Tapp, the special agent-in-charge for the FBI in New Orleans, Cantrell and Vappie both knew they were violating the law.
"For instance, in April 2022, an associate of Cantrell's explicitly told her in multiple text messages that spending public funds and using public resources for her relationship was illegal," Tapp said during a Friday news conference.
The federal grand jury also handed up a new indictment against Cantrell's former New Orleans Police bodyguard and alleged boyfriend, Jeffrey Vappie.
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.