Latest news with #JeffreyVappie
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
New Orleans mayor indicted for fraud over police relationship
Aug. 16 (UPI) -- New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell is facing federal wire fraud and conspiracy charges after being indicted this week along with a former member of her security detail. Cantrell and retired New Orleans Police Department officer Jeffrey Vappie were both indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and other charges after Vappie was allegedly paid for official duty while the two were engaged in "personal activities," according to a statement issued by the Justice Department. Authorities contend the two began a relationship in 2021, during which time Vappie was paid as an on-duty member of Cantrell's personal security team. Vappie retired in 2004. "They embarked on a scheme to defraud the City of New Orleans and NOPD by exploiting Vappie's job and Cantrell's authority as Mayor to have the City and NOPD pay Vappie's salary and expenses during times Vappie claimed to be on duty but when the was actually engaged in personal activities, often with Cantrell," the Justice Department indictment reads. The allegations contend Vappie and Cantrell's activities extended to out-of-state trips. Cantrell allegedly shifted policy and started bringing members of her Executive Protection Unit on the out-of-state trips around five months after Vappie joined the EPU. "Cantrell said she would 'make it happen' to have Vappie accompany her on a three-day trip to Washington, D.C., a trip that they both agreed that they 'needed,'" the Justice Department statement reads. The City of New Orleans was billed over $70,000 on Vappie's behalf for the three-day trip. The couple also allegedly used a city-owned apartment during their relationship. Cantrell was elected in 2018 after serving as a Member of the New Orleans City Council, making her the first female mayor in the city's history. Cantrell has not commented publicly on the allegations. Police say the pair tried to hide the affair and have recovered thousands of texts and pictures from the What'sApp messaging platform. Both are charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to obstruct justice. Vappie also faces twelve counts of wire fraud. Cantrell is also named in six of the latter charges. Additionally, Vappie is charged with making a false statement to the FBI, while Cantrell faces two counts of making a false declaration before a grand jury. Solve the daily Crossword
BBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
New Orleans mayor and bodyguard lover charged with fraud and corruption
The mayor of New Orleans has been charged with conspiracy, fraud and obstruction of justice over allegations she used public funds to facilitate a romantic relationship with her said on Friday that LaToya Cantrell developed a "personal, intimate relationship" with Jeffrey Vappie as early as October 2021, while he was part of her protection then until his retirement in June 2024, the pair are accused of claiming Mr Vappie was on duty when they were actually engaged in "personal activities", including during 14 separate domestic and international Cantrell nor Mr Vappie have publicly commented on the allegations. The City of New Orleans told the Associated Press that it was aware of the charges and that the mayor's attorney was reviewing prosecutors alleged that Cantrell and Mr Vappie used secure messaging platform WhatsApp and its auto-delete function while exchanging thousands of messages to "perpetuate their continued fraud".This allowed the pair to hide their relationship and their alleged unlawful activity, prosecutors in New Orleans, they treated a city-owned apartment as their personal, shared residence and spent time there together while Mr Vappie claimed to be on duty and was being paid for his protection work, prosecutors two were also said to have taken personal trips - including to a vineyard in California to take part in a wine tasting - while Mr Vappie was on duty to "maximize their time together", at a cost of $70, asked about these trips, Cantrell previously said she brought a bodyguard with her as a matter of safety due to the Covid pandemic - though prosecutors contest this claim, citing occasions she travelled attorney Michael Simpson said their relationship did not constitute as a crime, but reflected "a years-long fraud scheme that used public money for personal ends by exploiting their power and their authority", according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner. At an undisclosed point in their relationship, a member of the public took photos of Cantrell and Mr Vappie dining together while the latter was said to be on duty. Cantrell filed a police report and sought a restraining order against the individual, prosecutors two are also accused of intimidating subordinates, lying to FBI agents and committing perjury by making false statements to a grand jury - which decide whether charges should be brought in certain cases in the found guilty, any of the charges could bring multi-year prison sentences and fines of up to $250,000 (£184,000).Cantrell, a Democrat, is the first female mayor of New Orleans in the city's 300-year history, having served since 2018. She is is set to leave the office in January.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
New Orleans mayor indicted for corruption over alleged bodyguard romance
The New Orleans mayor, LaToya Cantrell, was indicted by a federal grand jury Friday on corruption charges involving a purported romance with her former bodyguard. Cantrell, 53, thus became the first New Orleans mayor in the city's 307-year history to be charged by the US government with crimes while still in office. The indictment against Cantrell came after she drew scrutiny for an alleged affair with a now retired New Orleans police officer who had served as her bodyguard. Cantrell and the bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, allegedly plotted to foster their personal and romantic relationship while he was clocked in at work and being paid to provide her with protection. As Guardian reporting partner WWL Louisiana reported, Cantrell also allegedly arranged for Vappie to accompany her on at least 14 out-of-state trips, including to Scotland and the United Arab Emirates, claiming concerns about her safety that required protection. The trips cost the New Orleans' city government more than $70,000, not counting Cantrell's travel expenses, the charging documents filed on Friday said. The pair were also accused of using a city-owned apartment on the edge of New Orleans's Jackson Square, in its historic French Quarter neighborhood, to spend time together while Vappie was supposed to be on duty. Cantrell and Vappie, 52, are accused of then seeking to cover up the relationship by using an encrypted messaging program and deleting at least some of the 15,000 messages they exchanged, as well as lying to federal agents, grand jurors, colleagues and the public. When a New Orleans resident took photos of the Cantrell and Vappie dining together and drinking wine, the mayor filed a police report and temporarily obtained a restraining order, he said. Friday's charges also allege that Vappie 'attempted to persuade' New Orleans's interim police superintendent from December 2022 to October 2023, Michelle Woodfork, to 'make it right' and exonerate him as investigators circled. Cantrell then met with Woodfork – in front of Vappie – and told her she would not be offered the long-term superintendent's post, the indictment contended. Cantrell and Vappie are facing charges of wire fraud, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit both of those crimes, false statements and untrue declarations to a grand jury. Vappie had already been charged in July 2024 – shortly after he retired from the New Orleans police – with wire fraud and lying to FBI agents. The allegations against him and Cantrell called to mind the 2018 scandal that cost the Nashville mayor, Megan Barry, her job and centered on an affair with her bodyguard, Robert Forrest. Prosecutors who obtained the 2024 charges against Vappie alleged he researched that case online two years beforehand. Friday's charges against Cantrell also come after the September 2024 indictment of New Orleans businessman Randy Farrell. Farrell was charged with exchanging gifts with the mayor so she would allegedly fire a municipal employee who was investigating Farrell's building inspection company. Among the alleged gifts were tickets to a January 2019 New Orleans Saints football game, which was being played with a Super Bowl appearance on the line, a cellphone and lunch at an upscale Ruth's Chris Steak House in the city. Vappie and Farrell had pleaded not guilty to the charges previously filed against them. While the Donald Trump-led US justice department obtained the indictment against Cantrell about seven months into the Republican's second presidency, the federal investigation into the mayor began while Joe Biden – her fellow Democrat – was in his second full year in the Oval Office. The timing of Friday's indictment coincided with the grand jurors being scheduled to wind down their work. Such panels are typically in place for six months, but this one had been extended twice since first convening in February 2024. Cantrell's office issued a statement saying it would not comment on Friday's indictment until it had been reviewed by her defense attorney, Eddie Castaing. At a press briefing, the acting US attorney in New Orleans, Michael Simpson, accused Cantrell and Vappie of 'an incredible betrayal' of the public's trust in its own government. Cantrell, a native of Compton, California, had been a New Orleans city council member before winning election as its first-ever female mayor in November 2017. She succeeded Mitch Landrieu, who later worked for Biden's White House as its infrastructure czar. The Cantrell administration's first four-year term was partly marked by its guiding the city through the Covid-19 pandemic. And, in 2019, New Orleans registered a 47-year low of homicides. Cantrell was re-elected in November 2021, and her second term has been considerably turbulent. The federal investigation began with 2022 subpoenas issued regarding an image consultant she employed. Her husband – Jason, with whom she had a daughter – unexpectedly died in August 2023. And, as the AP noted, her civic profile receded as she locked herself into feuds with a hostile city council while alienating former confidantes as well as supporters. The city council responded by weakening the mayor's power through voter-approved changes to the municipal governing charter. Cantrell and her remaining allies maintain that, as a Black woman, she has been treated differently from her male predecessors. Simpson on Friday denied that race or gender factored into the investigation against Cantrell. Cantrell was term-limited from seeking another stint as mayor and is due to leave office in January. Several candidates have signed up to run to replace her in a primary election set for October. Only one other person who has served as New Orleans mayor has been charged with federal crimes: Ray Nagin. Nagin was the New Orleans mayor when the failure of federal levees there during Hurricane Katrina on 29 August 2005 destroyed the city and caused about 1,400 deaths. He was charged after leaving office and convicted in 2014 on charges of bribery, honest services wire fraud, money laundering, filing false tax returns and conspiracy. He then received a 10-year prison sentence. The Associated Press and WWL Louisiana contributed reporting Solve the daily Crossword
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
New Orleans mayor indicted for corruption over alleged bodyguard romance
The New Orleans mayor, LaToya Cantrell, was indicted by a federal grand jury Friday on corruption charges involving a purported romance with her former bodyguard. Cantrell, 53, thus became the first New Orleans mayor in the city's 307-year history to be charged by the US government with crimes while still in office. The indictment against Cantrell came after she drew scrutiny for an alleged affair with a now retired New Orleans police officer who had served as her bodyguard. Cantrell and the bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, allegedly plotted to foster their personal and romantic relationship while he was clocked in at work and being paid to provide her with protection. As Guardian reporting partner WWL Louisiana reported, Cantrell also allegedly arranged for Vappie to accompany her on at least 14 out-of-state trips, including to Scotland and the United Arab Emirates, claiming concerns about her safety that required protection. The trips cost the New Orleans' city government more than $70,000, not counting Cantrell's travel expenses, the charging documents filed on Friday said. The pair were also accused of using a city-owned apartment on the edge of New Orleans's Jackson Square, in its historic French Quarter neighborhood, to spend time together while Vappie was supposed to be on duty. Cantrell and Vappie, 52, are accused of then seeking to cover up the relationship by using an encrypted messaging program and deleting at least some of the 15,000 messages they exchanged, as well as lying to federal agents, grand jurors, colleagues and the public. When a New Orleans resident took photos of the Cantrell and Vappie dining together and drinking wine, the mayor filed a police report and temporarily obtained a restraining order, he said. Friday's charges also allege that Vappie 'attempted to persuade' New Orleans's interim police superintendent from December 2022 to October 2023, Michelle Woodfork, to 'make it right' and exonerate him as investigators circled. Cantrell then met with Woodfork – in front of Vappie – and told her she would not be offered the long-term superintendent's post, the indictment contended. Cantrell and Vappie are facing charges of wire fraud, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit both of those crimes, false statements and untrue declarations to a grand jury. Vappie had already been charged in July 2024 – shortly after he retired from the New Orleans police – with wire fraud and lying to FBI agents. The allegations against him and Cantrell called to mind the 2018 scandal that cost the Nashville mayor, Megan Barry, her job and centered on an affair with her bodyguard, Robert Forrest. Prosecutors who obtained the 2024 charges against Vappie alleged he researched that case online two years beforehand. Friday's charges against Cantrell also come after the September 2024 indictment of New Orleans businessman Randy Farrell. Farrell was charged with exchanging gifts with the mayor so she would allegedly fire a municipal employee who was investigating Farrell's building inspection company. Among the alleged gifts were tickets to a January 2019 New Orleans Saints football game, which was being played with a Super Bowl appearance on the line, a cellphone and lunch at an upscale Ruth's Chris Steak House in the city. Vappie and Farrell had pleaded not guilty to the charges previously filed against them. While the Donald Trump-led US justice department obtained the indictment against Cantrell about seven months into the Republican's second presidency, the federal investigation into the mayor began while Joe Biden – her fellow Democrat – was in his second full year in the Oval Office. The timing of Friday's indictment coincided with the grand jurors being scheduled to wind down their work. Such panels are typically in place for six months, but this one had been extended twice since first convening in February 2024. Cantrell's office issued a statement saying it would not comment on Friday's indictment until it had been reviewed by her defense attorney, Eddie Castaing. At a press briefing, the acting US attorney in New Orleans, Michael Simpson, accused Cantrell and Vappie of 'an incredible betrayal' of the public's trust in its own government. Cantrell, a native of Compton, California, had been a New Orleans city council member before winning election as its first-ever female mayor in November 2017. She succeeded Mitch Landrieu, who later worked for Biden's White House as its infrastructure czar. The Cantrell administration's first four-year term was partly marked by its guiding the city through the Covid-19 pandemic. And, in 2019, New Orleans registered a 47-year low of homicides. Cantrell was re-elected in November 2021, and her second term has been considerably turbulent. The federal investigation began with 2022 subpoenas issued regarding an image consultant she employed. Her husband – Jason, with whom she had a daughter – unexpectedly died in August 2023. And, as the AP noted, her civic profile receded as she locked herself into feuds with a hostile city council while alienating former confidantes as well as supporters. The city council responded by weakening the mayor's power through voter-approved changes to the municipal governing charter. Cantrell and her remaining allies maintain that, as a Black woman, she has been treated differently from her male predecessors. Simpson on Friday denied that race or gender factored into the investigation against Cantrell. Cantrell was term-limited from seeking another stint as mayor and is due to leave office in January. Several candidates have signed up to run to replace her in a primary election set for October. Only one other person who has served as New Orleans mayor has been charged with federal crimes: Ray Nagin. Nagin was the New Orleans mayor when the failure of federal levees there during Hurricane Katrina on 29 August 2005 destroyed the city and caused about 1,400 deaths. He was charged after leaving office and convicted in 2014 on charges of bribery, honest services wire fraud, money laundering, filing false tax returns and conspiracy. He then received a 10-year prison sentence. The Associated Press and WWL Louisiana contributed reporting
Toronto Star
2 days ago
- Toronto Star
Things to know about the indictment against the New Orleans mayor
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Months before New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was set to leave office because of term limits, she has been indicted in what prosecutors allege was a yearslong scheme to conceal a romantic relationship with her bodyguard. Prosecutors say bodyguard Jeffrey Vappie was being paid as if he was working when he and Cantrell were really alone in apartments and visiting vineyards, hiding their communication by sending encrypted messages through WhatsApp and then deleting them. Although the pair have said their relationship was strictly professional, the indictment described it as 'personal and intimate.'
