NEW ORLEANS ( WVUE /Gray News) - A federal indictment alleges New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and former New Orleans Police Department Officer Jeffrey Vappie carried out a years‑long fraud scheme that used city funds for personal purposes.

The indictment also alleges that the two concealed a romantic relationship while Vappie was on the mayor’s executive protection detail.

Prosecutors say they exchanged more than 15,000 WhatsApp messages, photos and audio clips in eight months, arranged at least 14 domestic and international trips and charged over $70,000 in travel to the city as Vappie claimed on‑duty hours.

The filing alleges the pair used WhatsApp to intimidate subordinates, harass a citizen, delete evidence, mislead investigators and give false statements to a federal grand

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