Federal Grand Jury Indicts New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell Over Concealing Romantic Relationship After Years-Long Investigation

Sitting mayor faces wire fraud, obstruction charges in corruption probe

A federal grand jury indicted New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell on Friday on conspiracy, fraud and obstruction charges stemming from allegations that she attempted to conceal a romantic relationship with her police bodyguard.

The indictment represents the culmination of a long-running federal investigation into the first female mayor in the city’s 300-year history. The charges center on accusations that Cantrell and her bodyguard exploited their public positions in a scheme to defraud the city while hiding their personal relationship.

The charges against the Democratic mayor represent a dramatic fall for the former neighborhood organizer who ascended from the City Council to become New Orleans’ first female mayor in 2018. Her rise to power symbolized the political transformation that swept New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

Central Allegations: Concealing Romantic Relationship

According to the federal indictment, Cantrell and Jeffrey Vappie, her former New Orleans Police Department bodyguard, “developed a personal and intimate relationship” in 2021. Prosecutors allege the pair exploited their public positions to “develop and implement a scheme to defraud” the city while attempting to hide their relationship.

Federal prosecutors accuse Vappie and Cantrell of exchanging encrypted messages through an app to avoid detection, then deleting the conversations. The mayor and Vappie have maintained their relationship was strictly professional.

Vappie, who retired from the police department last year, previously pleaded not guilty to charges of wire fraud and making false statements. He is accused of filing false payroll records claiming he was on duty while allegedly spending time with Cantrell. His trial is scheduled for January.

Historic Criminal Charges

Cantrell becomes only the second mayor in New Orleans history to face criminal charges and the first sitting mayor to be indicted. Former Mayor Ray Nagin was convicted on corruption charges in 2014 after leaving office.

The timing of the indictment comes amid significant upheaval within federal law enforcement as President Donald Trump overhauls the Justice Department and FBI. The investigation began under the previous administration of President Joe Biden.

Previous Allegations Surface

The scope of the federal investigation became clearer through indictments filed last year against individuals in Cantrell’s orbit. In September, prosecutors indirectly accused Cantrell of accepting bribes from private electrical inspector Randy Farrell in exchange for firing a high-ranking city official. The mayor was identified in that indictment as “Public Official 1.”

Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montaño was also described as accepting gifts from Farrell. Montaño announced this week he would leave city government before Cantrell’s term ends in January 2026 due to term limits. He has not been charged.

Investigation Timeline

Federal scrutiny of Cantrell intensified in late 2022 when prosecutors issued subpoenas to two high-end clothing boutiques where fashion consultant Tanya Haynes made purchases for the mayor. Haynes said Cantrell paid for any clothes she kept.

The FBI also examined dealings between Cantrell’s campaign donors and her administration, according to sources familiar with the investigation.

Last July’s indictment of Vappie described alleged discussions between the bodyguard and Cantrell about deleting messages regarding fraudulent timesheets. Farrell was indicted two months later, accused of using fraudulent permits for illegal home inspections and bribing officials with football tickets and other gifts.

Both men have pleaded not guilty. Farrell’s trial is scheduled for October and Vappie’s for January.

Official Responses and Political Implications

The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office held a Friday afternoon news conference regarding the charges. Cantrell’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment from news organizations.

“This is a sad day for the people of New Orleans,” said Monet Brignac, a spokesperson for City Council President JP Morrell. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cantrell family as they navigate through this difficult time.”

Cantrell, who is term-limited and will leave office in January 2026, has not posted on her official social media accounts since July 15, when she highlighted the city’s crime reduction efforts.

Turbulent Second Term

As Cantrell enters her final months in office, she has become increasingly isolated from former allies and supporters. The Democratic mayor survived a recall effort in 2022 and has clashed repeatedly with City Council members during a turbulent second term.

Political observers note that her early achievements have been overshadowed by self-inflicted controversies and bitter feuds with a hostile city council. The mayor’s authority has been further diminished by voter-approved changes to the city’s charter designed to curb her powers.

Cantrell and her remaining supporters contend she has been unfairly targeted as a Black woman and held to different standards than male officials. Earlier this year, she described facing “very disrespectful, insulting, in some cases kind of unimaginable” treatment.

Administrative Changes

Once known as a fiery public speaker whose organizing background made her appear accessible to voters, Cantrell’s communication style shifted during the federal investigation. She hired crisis communications specialist Terry Davis, who previously worked for Nagin, to lead City Hall’s press office.

Cantrell reduced public appearances, avoided media interactions and delivered more controlled remarks during the investigation period. She became more accessible in recent months, conducting interviews about crime response, Super Bowl security preparations and the aftermath of the New Year’s Day truck attack on Bourbon Street that killed 14 people.

Broader Challenges

Cantrell’s administration has confronted multiple challenges during her second term, including Hurricane Ida recovery, the COVID-19 pandemic’s economic impact, rising violent crime that mirrored national trends and persistent infrastructure problems.

Democratic allies have praised her COVID-19 response, which elevated her national profile as a progressive mayor in a conservative region that resisted public health measures including masks and lockdowns.

Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg and Nicholas Moses presented Friday’s indictment before the magistrate judge.