New Orleans Mayor Indicted for Crimes Tied to Alleged Affair

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell (D) was indicted Friday along with her former bodyguard and alleged romantic partner on federal fraud and obstruction of justice charges.

The former bodyguard, Jeffrey Paul Vappie II, was indicted last July on wire fraud charges arising from his alleged efforts to conceal and carry on his relationship with “Public Official 1.” A superseding indictment filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana identifies that public official as Cantrell.

Cantrell, reelected to a second four-year term in November 2021, is the first sitting New Orleans mayor to be charged with a federal crime.

Prosecutors claim that Cantrell and Vappie engaged in “personal activities” while Vappie was on paid duty and that they organized out-of-state trips to maximize their time together. In total, the trips cost New Orleans over $70,000 separate from Cantrell’s travel costs, prosecutors claim.

They also allege that Cantrell and Vappie conspired to impede the government’s investigation by, among other things, using encrypted messaging, intimidating subordinates, lying to colleagues, deleting electronic evidence, and testifying falsely before a grand jury.

The charges include conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, false statements, obstruction of justice, and making a false declaration before a grand jury.

According to prosecutors, he denied any physical or romantic relationship with Cantrell.

Each of the substantive wire fraud charges is tied to travel reimbursement and wages Vappie was paid when prosecutors say he wasn’t really working.

Vappie has pleaded not guilty and is represented by Phelps Dunbar LLP and Murphy Ball Stratton LLP.

Cantrell’s office didn’t immediately respond to Bloomberg Law’s request for comment.

The case is United States v. Vappie, E.D. La., No. 2:24-cr-00165, superseding indictment filed 8/15/25.