logo
New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell indicted in alleged fraud scheme

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell indicted in alleged fraud scheme

The two went on 14 trips together that were considered New Orleans business, the indictment says. Destinations included the United Arab Emirates, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Among photos in court filings is one of them at a California vineyard. A trip to Scotland was "where it all started," Vappie wrote in one of 15,000 WhatsApp messages they exchanged between February and October 2022, according to court filings.
Federal charges against Cantrell in the Eastern District of Louisiana include conspiracy, wire fraud, false statements and obstruction of justice, court filings show.
A Cantrell office representative directed USA TODAY to send requests for comment via email. Her office did not reply.
Harry Rosenberg, an attorney for Vappie, told USA TODAY that his client could not comment on the indictment that involves the former bodyguard.
Vappie was indicted first in July 2024 on wire fraud charges related to billing false hours, including those he spent inside Cantrell's French Quarter apartment. He has pleaded not guilty, according to reporting by the Associated Press.
The pair face potentially decades in prison if found guilty, prosecutors said.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Man arrested after Antoine Semenyo reports racist abuse at Liverpool match
Man arrested after Antoine Semenyo reports racist abuse at Liverpool match

Daily Record

timean hour ago

  • Daily Record

Man arrested after Antoine Semenyo reports racist abuse at Liverpool match

Antoine Semenyo reported a racist comment from a member of the crowd during the opening match of the Premier League season between Bournemouth and Liverpool at Anfield. A man has been arrested following reports that a Bournemouth football player was racially abused during the first Premier League game of the season. ‌ AFC Bournemouth's Antoine Semenyo reported being racially abused by a spectator during the opening match against Liverpool. ‌ Match referee Anthony Taylor stopped play in the 29th minute on Friday and a man, 47, was ejected from Anfield stadium. ‌ A 47-year-old man from Liverpool was arrested on Saturday on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence and has been taken into custody to be interviewed, Merseyside Police said. Chief Inspector Kev Chatterton, match commander for the Liverpool versus Bournemouth game, said on Friday: "Merseyside Police will not tolerate hate crime of any form. "We take incidents like this very seriously, and in cases like this we will be proactively seeking football banning orders, with the club, against those responsible." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. He added: "There is no place for racism and it is vital that anyone who witnesses such an offence reports it to stewards, or the police, immediately so we can take the necessary action like we did this evening. "As with all matches, we work very closely with both Liverpool and Everton FC to ensure the safety of the public and the players." ‌ A spokesperson for Liverpool Football Club said: "Liverpool Football Club is aware of an allegation of racist abuse made during our Premier League game against Bournemouth. "We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms, it has no place in society, or football. "The club is unable to comment further as tonight's alleged incident is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, which we will support fully."

Pensioner 'beaten to death' after shopkeepers accuse him of stealing chocolate bar
Pensioner 'beaten to death' after shopkeepers accuse him of stealing chocolate bar

Daily Record

time3 hours ago

  • Daily Record

Pensioner 'beaten to death' after shopkeepers accuse him of stealing chocolate bar

The 67-year-old was reportedly dumped by a roadside after allegedly being punched, kicked and hit with an iron rod. A pensioner has allegedly been brutally beaten to death by shopkeepers who accused him of stealing a chocolate bar. ‌ Dharmasena Cooray was reported to have been a regular at his local market in the city of Kandy in Sri Lanka, where the horror incident unfolded. ‌ The married 67-year-old had been shopping on August 5 when he was confronted by the owner of a small shop and another worker and accused of stealing. ‌ The shop workers are understood to have claimed to have evidence of the theft on CCTV before allegedly launching a brutal assault on the man, reports the Mirror. Police are reported to have said the two men allegedly dragged Cooray inside the shop before punching, kicking and hitting him with an iron rod. Cooray was then dumped by the roadside, according to the Express. The OAP is understood to have suffered severe injuries to his head and legs, with a passer-by stopping and rushing him to hospital. While undergoing treatment, he was able to give police a statement before succumbing to his injuries and dying on August 11. ‌ A post-mortem examination was carried out but could not determine the exact cause of death. Chief Inspector Vijitha Wijekoon, head of the crime branch in Peradeniya, said two suspects had been arrested and remain in police custody. The Telegraph reported that local resident Zahra Niyas said: 'It's heartbreaking that, instead of someone offering to pay for it or the shop owner letting the gentleman enjoy that small treat, he had to pay the ultimate price with his life. ‌ 'So sad to see that compassion and humanity seem to be fading away in our world today.' Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Another local, Lal Kumarasanga, said: 'Such a level of evil to beat a poor, defenceless old man to death over a chocolate. Let the justice system use the two idiots as examples. They deserve to rot in hell.' Neighbours said Cooray was surviving on a modest pension which had been hit hard by inflation since Sri Lanka's 2022 economic collapse. The crisis left the country unable to import essentials like fuel, food, and medicine.

Man vanishes after Scots car crash as missing person probe launched
Man vanishes after Scots car crash as missing person probe launched

Daily Record

time4 hours ago

  • Daily Record

Man vanishes after Scots car crash as missing person probe launched

Officers want to check that Paul Smith is "safe and well". Police are appealing to the public for help tracing a missing man who vanished after a car crash. ‌ Paul Smith vanished after a crash near to a hotel in the early hours of this morning. ‌ He was last seen at around 1am, following a smash involving a Volkswage Tiguan car. ‌ And officers say they wish to trace the 43-year-old to make sure he is safe and well. He was wearing a black jumper and black tracksuit trousers when he was last seen. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. The force said he has brown hair, is of medium build, and is around 5ft 10ins tall. A post on the Police Scotland Renfrewshire & Inverclyde Facebook page contained a picture of Paiul. ‌ It said: "Officers are asking for the help of the public to trace a 43-year-old man missing from the Langbank area of Renfrewshire. "Paul Smith was last seen around 1am on Saturday, 16 August, following a crash involving a Volkswagen Tiguan car on the B780, Old Greenock Road, near the Gleddoch Hotel. ‌ "He is described as around 5ft 10ins, of medium build, with brown hair. When last seen he was wearing black jumper and black tracksuit bottoms." Inspector Megan Logan said: "Extensive enquiries and searches are being carried out to trace Paul as we need to make sure he is safe and well. He may have been injured in the crash and it is vital that he gets in touch with us or his family. "We are asking anyone who has seen Paul or knows where he might be to call us. If Paul hears about this appeal then please let us know you are safe and well." If you can help please call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0247 of Saturday, 16 August, 2025.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store