NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell of New Orleans was indicted on Friday, facing serious allegations related to a long-term effort to conceal a romantic relationship with her bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie. Prosecutors claim that Cantrell and Vappie engaged in a scheme where he was compensated as if he were on duty, even during private meetings and trips to vineyards.

Cantrell is charged with conspiracy, fraud, and obstruction of justice, just months before she is set to leave office due to term limits. She is the first mayor in New Orleans' 300-year history to be indicted while in office. Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Simpson remarked, "Public corruption has crippled us for years and years. And this is extremely significant."

Vappie, who has already pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and making false statements, was included in an 18-count indictment returned by a grand jury on the same day. The indictment alleges that the two used encrypted messages on WhatsApp to communicate and attempted to delete these conversations to evade detection. While both have maintained that their relationship was strictly professional, the indictment describes it as "personal and intimate."

The City of New Orleans acknowledged the indictment and stated that Cantrell's attorney is currently reviewing the situation. Until this review is complete, the city will refrain from further comments. Cantrell has not posted on her official social media account since July 15, when she noted a significant decline in crime in the city.

In one WhatsApp exchange cited in the indictment, Vappie reminisced about a trip to Scotland with Cantrell in October 2021, stating, "that was where it all started." The two reportedly exchanged over 15,000 messages, which included attempts to harass a citizen, delete evidence, and make false statements to FBI agents, ultimately leading to perjury before a federal grand jury, according to Simpson.

The indictment also details that Cantrell arranged for Vappie to attend 14 trips, which were described as times when they were "truly alone." New Orleans taxpayers reportedly covered over $70,000 for Vappie’s travel expenses. One notable trip occurred in September 2022 to Martha’s Vineyard, which Cantrell attended instead of a conference in Miami. Vappie’s travel to the island was funded by the city for a separate conference.

Simpson stated that Cantrell misled authorities in an affidavit, claiming she activated a message deletion feature on her phone in 2021, when in fact, she did not enable it until December 2022, after media scrutiny began. Following a private citizen's photos of the two dining together, Cantrell filed a police report and sought a restraining order against the individual.

Vappie retired from the police department in 2024. Cantrell and her supporters have argued that she is being unfairly targeted as a Black woman and that her executive powers have been undermined. However, Simpson dismissed these claims, stating that the nature of the allegations is unrelated to her gender or race, emphasizing that they represent a significant breach of public trust.

Cantrell, a Democrat, has faced challenges during her second term, including conflicts with City Council members and a recall effort in 2022. As she approaches the end of her term, her relationships with former allies have deteriorated, and her public standing has diminished. Earlier this year, she expressed feeling disrespected and insulted in her role. Her husband, attorney Jason Cantrell, passed away in 2023.