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Mayor LaToya Cantrell, the first woman ever elected to lead New Orleans, was indicted Friday on conspiracy, fraud and obstruction charges in what federal prosecutors described as a yearslong scheme to conceal a romantic relationship with her police bodyguard.
The charges come less than five months before Cantrell leaves office due to term limits, making her the first sitting mayor in the city’s 300-year history to face federal indictment.
Allegations of Misconduct
The indictment alleges that Cantrell, 52, and bodyguard Jeffrey Vappie used encrypted messaging apps and deleted conversations to hide their relationship, while billing taxpayers for hours Vappie claimed to be working but instead spent alone with the mayor.
“In 2021, Cantrell and Vappie developed a personal and intimate relationship,” the indictment states. “To hide their relationship and maximize their time together, Cantrell and Vappie exploited their public positions to develop and implement a scheme to defraud the city.”
Prosecutors said Cantrell arranged for Vappie to accompany her on 14 trips, including to vineyards for wine tasting, which she described as opportunities for the two “to be truly alone.” Vappie, already charged with wire fraud and making false statements, has pleaded not guilty.
Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson said Friday the case represents a major test for a city long plagued by public corruption.
“Public corruption has crippled us for years and years,” Simpson said. “This is extremely significant.”
Alleged Cover-Up
Prosecutors accuse Cantrell of lying in a sworn affidavit about her phone’s auto-delete function. She claimed she had activated it in 2021, but investigators found she only enabled the feature in 2022, shortly after news outlets began scrutinizing her relationship with Vappie.
Simpson said Cantrell also filed a false police report and sought a restraining order against a private citizen who photographed her dining and drinking wine with Vappie.
Cantrell and Vappie have both denied any improper relationship, insisting their interactions were professional.
Political Fallout
Cantrell’s office did not respond Friday to requests for comment. But in the past, she and her allies have argued she is being unfairly targeted as a Black woman in power.
Simpson rejected that claim outright. “It’s irrelevant that it’s romance or that it’s female,” he said. “These allegations are an incredible betrayal of people’s confidence in their own government.”
City Council leaders reacted somberly to the indictment. “This is a sad day for the people of New Orleans,” said Monet Brignac, spokesperson for Council President JP Morrell. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cantrell family as they navigate through this difficult time.”
A Weakened Mayor
Cantrell, a Democrat, rose to national prominence after her 2017 election, steering the city through the pandemic and championing reforms. But her second term has been marked by scandals, battles with the City Council, and a failed recall effort in 2022.
Her influence has waned further after voters approved charter changes to limit her powers, leaving her politically isolated in her final months in office.
Earlier this year, Cantrell lamented what she called “very disrespectful, insulting, in some cases kind of unimaginable” treatment during her time as mayor.
Now, with federal prosecutors circling, her once-historic tenure may be remembered less for her groundbreaking election than for the corruption case that threatens to define her legacy.
