New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell entered a not guilty plea in federal court Wednesday afternoon to charges she bilked taxpayers out of around $70,000 by fudging paperwork to make it appear as if her NOPD bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, was doing legitimate city work when accompanying Cantrell on trips.
Prosecutors say Cantrell and Vappie were instead having an intimate affair.
Cantrell listened as Magistrate Judge Karen Wells Roby read aloud the eleven charges against the mayor. Here only words were to say she understood the charges and that she pleaded not guilty to them.
The court ordered Cantrell to surrender her passport and limited her travel to within the United States.
Cantrell entered and exited the court without making any comments to the crowd of reporters gathered outside. Her attorney, Eddie Castaing, spoke briefly and said neither he nor the mayor would be commenting on the case today.
The magistrate set a trial date of November 17, but Castaing said that will likely be continued.