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New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell indicted in historic federal investigation

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was indicted by a federal grand jury, becoming the first mayor to face federal charges while still in office.

Author: David Hammer / WWL Louisiana Investigator, Lily Cummings / WWL Louisiana

Published: 1:53 PM EDT August 15, 2025

Updated: 3:35 PM EDT August 15, 2025

NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell was indicted by a federal grand jury on Friday, making her the first New Orleans mayor charged with a federal crime while still in office.

This is a superseding indictment from the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana, against Jeffrey Paul Vappie, II, and Latoya Cantrell. It charges them with multiple violations, including:

>Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud

>Wire Fraud

>Conspiracy to Obstruct Justice

>Obstruction of Justice

>False Statements

>False Declarations Before a Grand Jury

The indictment alleges that Latoya Cantrell, the Mayor of New Orleans, and Jeffrey Paul Vappie, a member of her Executive Protection Unit (EPU), developed a personal relationship in October 2021. To conceal their relationship and maximize their time together, they allegedly created a scheme to defraud the City of New Orleans by engaging in personal activities while Vappie was on duty and being paid for providing protection.

Continued…

https://www.11alive.com/article/news/nation-world/mayor-latoya-cantrell-indicted-in-historic-federal-investigation-crime-criminal-investigation-new-orleans-louisiana-politics/289-a8cb74af-4878-40db-ac7a-a5bf19cd4ff0