Mayor LaToya Cantrell Indicted Over Secret Affair Cover-Up/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has been federally indicted for covering up a romantic relationship with her security officer. Prosecutors allege a conspiracy to defraud the city and obstruct justice. The charges include wire fraud, false statements, and perjury.
Cantrell Indictment and Cover-Up Scandal: Quick Looks
- Mayor LaToya Cantrell indicted for defrauding New Orleans amid affair cover-up.
- Allegedly conspired to hide relationship with officer Jeffrey Vappie.
- Indictment includes wire fraud, obstruction, and perjury charges.
- Vappie allegedly claimed city pay while traveling personally with Cantrell.
- The two exchanged over 15,000 private messages on WhatsApp.
- Cantrell and Vappie accused of deleting evidence, intimidating subordinates.
- City paid $70,000 for travel tied to their relationship.
- Cantrell, city’s first female mayor, is in final term.
- Indictment could lead to prison sentences up to 20 years.
- Council President Morrell calls it “a sad day” for the city.
Deep Look: Mayor LaToya Cantrell Indicted Over Secret Affair and Fraud Scheme
In a stunning development, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was indicted on federal charges Friday, accused of engaging in a criminal scheme to hide a romantic relationship with a police officer by defrauding the city and obstructing justice. The indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, paints a picture of systemic abuse of public office spanning several years.
According to federal prosecutors, Cantrell and New Orleans Police Officer Jeffrey Paul Vappie II conspired to misuse city resources in order to facilitate their private relationship. The charges against Cantrell include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, obstruction of justice, making false statements, and lying to a grand jury—offenses that carry penalties of up to 20 years in prison.
The alleged affair took place while Vappie served on the mayor’s executive protection unit from May 2021 to April 2024. Prosecutors allege that the pair used their official positions to schedule personal time together while Vappie fraudulently reported himself as working, drawing city funds for unauthorized activities. In total, the city spent around $70,000 for Vappie’s travel accompanying the mayor.
A recently unsealed 18-count indictment expands an existing case against Vappie, who was already facing charges of wire fraud and false statements. He has pleaded not guilty. The new charges tie Cantrell directly to the scheme and add further allegations of misconduct against the officer.
Cantrell’s attorney, Eddie Castaing, told NBC News that he had just received the indictment and was reviewing it. The city issued a brief statement acknowledging the charges but withheld further comment pending the attorney’s review.
Federal prosecutors offered extensive details during a Friday press conference, alleging that Cantrell and Vappie used WhatsApp to exchange more than 15,000 messages, including photos and audio clips, over an eight-month span. These messages, officials said, were not just personal in nature—they were allegedly used to coordinate the cover-up, intimidate city staff, delete digital evidence, and even harass citizens.
One of the most damning accusations centers around a trip in April 2022. Cantrell and Vappie extended a city-funded visit to San Francisco with a detour to Napa Valley wine country. While enjoying the personal excursion, Vappie logged 15 hours of work on his city time sheet, prosecutors said.
During their exchanges, Cantrell reportedly referred to these secret getaways as “times when we are truly alone” and “what spoils me the most,” reinforcing the indictment’s claim of a personal and intimate relationship.
Though Cantrell and Vappie have previously denied a romantic connection, federal prosecutors strongly refuted that in the indictment, stating their relationship was clearly personal and involved the misuse of public funds and positions of trust.
Complicating the matter further, Cantrell was still married at the time to attorney Jason Cantrell, who passed away in 2023. While the mayor continued her duties publicly, federal investigators say she and Vappie orchestrated a coordinated effort behind the scenes to evade scrutiny, obstruct justice, and mislead investigators.
The indictment also alleges that the pair perjured themselves during the investigation, a serious charge that carries significant legal weight. They are accused of lying to colleagues, interfering with investigations, and committing further acts of deception to protect themselves from accountability.
Vappie retired from the force in June 2024, after the alleged misconduct had already drawn internal attention. Now, both he and Cantrell face the possibility of substantial prison time if convicted.
City Council President JP Morrell issued a solemn response: “This is a sad day for the people of New Orleans. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cantrell family as they navigate through this difficult time.”
Cantrell, a Democrat, is currently serving her final term and is set to leave office in January 2026. She made history in 2018 by becoming the first female mayor of New Orleans. However, her second term has been marred by controversy, including a failed recall effort in 2022.
Cantrell is also the first sitting mayor in the city’s 300-year history to face federal criminal charges while in office. The last New Orleans mayor to be convicted of a federal crime was Ray Nagin, who served 10 years in prison after a 2014 bribery conviction related to his time in office. Nagin was released on supervised pandemic-related conditions in 2020.
The charges against Cantrell cast a long shadow over her legacy and have rocked New Orleans’ political landscape, raising fresh questions about ethics, accountability, and the proper boundaries of public service.
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