NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – A superseding federal indictment alleges New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and former NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie carried out a years‑long fraud scheme that used city funds for personal purposes, including concealing a romantic relationship, while Vappie was on the mayor’s executive protection detail.
Prosecutors say the pair 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 they used WhatsApp to intimidate subordinates, harass a citizen, delete evidence, mislead investigators and give false statements to a federal grand jury.
The 18-count indictment also alleges Cantrell pressured then‑Interim Superintendent Michelle Woodfork to halt an internal NOPD probe of Vappie, sought his reassignment to her detail despite findings against him, and concealed responsive records from a grand jury subpoena, including WhatsApp communications. Cantrell has denied wrongdoing. Vappie previously pleaded not guilty in the case.
- Alleged year-long fraud scheme: Prosecutors say Mayor LaToya Cantrell and former NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie used public funds to cover salary, travel, and expenses for personal activities, often together at the Upper Pontalba apartment or on trips.
- Over 15,000 WhatsApp messages: The indictment alleges Cantrell and Vappie exchanged more than 15,000 messages, pictures, and audio clips in eight months, including instructions to intimidate subordinates, delete evidence, and lie to investigators.
- $70,000 in travel costs: Vappie allegedly accompanied Cantrell on at least 14 domestic and international trips, with city travel costs exceeding $70,000.
- Pressure on NOPD leadership: Prosecutors claim Cantrell pressured then–Interim NOPD Superintendent Michelle Woodfork to halt an internal investigation into Vappie, and later reassigned him to her detail despite findings against him.
- Obstruction and concealment: The indictment says both were warned their conduct was illegal, yet concealed records from a grand jury, falsely claimed use of disappearing messages before news broke, and manually deleted thousands of prior WhatsApp messages.
Cantrell’s indictment marks the first time in New Orleans’ history a sitting mayor has faced criminal prosecution. She has previously denied wrongdoing.
At least 12 out of 16 jurors voted to indict Cantrell on Friday, August 15.
The indictment outlines at least 14 domestic and international trips Vappie took with Cantrell, including San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Martha’s Vineyard, allegedly arranged to maximize personal time together.
On one trip to Napa Valley wineries, prosecutors say Vappie claimed to be working a 15-hour day.
In total, the city allegedly spent more than $70,000 on Vappie’s travel for such trips.
In private messages, Cantrell described these trips as “times when we are truly alone” and “what spoils me the most.” On another trip, Vappie allegedly told Cantrell it was “another leg on our journey” and declared his love for her.
Prosecutors say both defendants were warned their conduct was illegal as early as April 2022. The indictment claims Cantrell concealed more than 50 records from a grand jury subpoena and falsely claimed she had activated WhatsApp’s disappearing messages feature in 2021, when in fact she turned it on more than a month after news coverage began.
Other allegations include filing a police report and seeking a restraining order against a citizen who photographed them together while Vappie was on duty, and continuing to obstruct investigations through 2024.
RELATED: Timeline of events leading to Mayor Latoya Cantrell’s federal indictment
The mayor’s legal troubles come after more than two years of mounting criticism including; an alleged romantic relationship involving her former executive security officer, a legal battle with a New Orleans resident who took photos of the alleged relationship, a legal battle with New orleans Public Schools over a broken multi-million dollar funding promise, the indictment of a former city inspector who allegedly bribed her with Saints tickets, and frequent travel amid an ongoing jail escape and in the aftermath of a mass power outage.
The federal probe first gained traction in 2023, when Fox 8’s “Outside the Office” investigation uncovered that NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie, who had been assigned to Cantrell’s protective detail, was spending hours with her inside a city-owned apartment while on the clock and possibly being paid for unworked time. Surveillance logs, building access records, and timestamped footage showed Vappie frequently entered the Upper Pontalba apartment while on duty.
Investigators later uncovered that Vappie may have engaged in an inappropriate relationship with the mayor while filing falsified timesheets. Vappie was placed on leave and eventually resigned.
In July 2024, Vappie was indicted on federal charges including wire fraud and falsifying records. Prosecutors allege he lied to cover up a romantic relationship with Cantrell. He has pleaded not guilty.
The indictment also includes allegations that former NOPD Interim Superintendent Michelle Woodfork was pressured by Cantrell to dismiss an internal investigation into Vappie, and her refusal to do so may have cost her the permanent position.
In September 2024, the feds indicted former city inspector Randy Farrell, who allegedly bribed Cantrell with Saints tickets and a steak dinner in exchange for the removal of city employees interfering with his permitting schemes. He is also accused of forging inspection documents and defrauding the city.
Most recently, Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montaño, one of the last remaining high-level members of Cantrell’s original team, announced he would leave his post at the end of August 2025.
The mayor’s spending and travel habits have also come under repeated fire. In 2022, she faced backlash for using public funds to upgrade flights to business class for international travel, defending the practice as “doing business on behalf of the city.”
In 2022, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell spent nearly $200,000 from her campaign account, with more than a third of those funds going toward image consulting services. Campaign finance records in February 2022 show Cantrell’s campaign paid $60,000 to Jolie Image Consulting, owned by Tanya Haynes, and another $12,000 to Erica Warren.
Haynes allegedly told store employees she was purchasing clothing for the mayor to wear at public events like Essence Fest and a 2018 royal visit.
In November 2022, FOX 8 reported that federal agents had visited Ballin’s Ltd., a high-end New Orleans fashion boutique, as part of their investigation. FBI agents questioned employees and collected receipts and documents related to purchases made by Tanya Blunt-Haynes, a salon owner and personal shopper who also served as Cantrell’s stylist.
Cantrell has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
“How I came in seems to be how I’m going out. Accusation after accusation after accusation,” Cantrell said defiantly at a budget presentation in October 2024.
At a U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Tampa in June, Cantrell called the scrutiny she has faced while in office “disrespectful.”
Cantrell made history in November 2017 when elected as New Orleans’ first Black woman mayor. She has made history again as the city’s first sitting mayor to face criminal charges.
Former Mayor Ray Nagin, who served six years of a 10-year federal prison sentence for wire fraud, bribery and money laundering convictions, had been out of office for 32 months when he was indicted in January 2013.
The City of New Orleans acknowledged the federal indictment of Mayor LaToya Cantrell but declined to comment on the allegations.
In a statement, the city said Cantrell’s attorney, Eddie Castaing, had recently received the indictment and is reviewing it. “Until his review is complete, the City will not comment further on this matter,” the statement said.
See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Click Here to report it. Please include the headline.
Subscribe to the Fox 8 YouTube channel.
Copyright 2025 WVUE. All rights reserved.
