The mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, has been charged with fraud and corruption alongside her bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, for allegedly misusing public funds to sustain their intimate relationship. The charges were announced on Friday by federal prosecutors, who assert that from October 2021 until Vappie’s impending retirement in June 2024, the duo claimed he was working while in fact they were engaged in personal activities, including a series of domestic and international trips.
The prosecutor's office stated that Cantrell and Vappie exchanged thousands of messages using the secure, auto-delete function of WhatsApp to conceal their activities. The couple reportedly treated a city-owned apartment as a shared residence while Vappie claimed to be on duty, with the pair allegedly taking vacations, including a costly trip to a California vineyard, totaling around $70,000.
Cantrell previously defended her decision to travel with Vappie using safety concerns due to the Covid pandemic, a claim now challenged by prosecutors citing instances when she traveled alone. U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson mentioned that while their relationship itself wasn't a crime, it was part of a broader scheme that exploited public funds for personal benefits.
Additionally, prosecutors allege that Cantrell sought to intimidate witnesses and provided false testimony to FBI agents, risking serious legal consequences; if found guilty, they could face substantial prison time and hefty fines. Cantrell made history as New Orleans' first female mayor after being elected in 2018 and is scheduled to conclude her term in January 2024.
