A former police bodyguard for New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is set to appear in court following his indictment on federal charges. Jeffrey Vappie, a retired officer from the New Orleans Police Department, faces allegations of submitting fraudulent payroll documents and providing false information regarding a supposed romantic relationship with Cantrell. Vappie, who denies the charges, was indicted on seven counts of wire fraud and one count of making false statements.
Prosecutors claim that Vappie received payroll deposits for times he was reported to be on duty with the police department’s executive protection unit when he was actually off duty. Additionally, he is accused of misleading the FBI about his alleged romantic involvement with Cantrell, which would have violated department policy. Cantrell, a Democrat and the first female mayor of New Orleans, is referred to as Public Official 1 in the indictment and has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
The ongoing scandal surrounding Cantrell’s tenure has also led to legal issues. A woman who took a photo of Cantrell and Vappie together at a French Quarter restaurant in April has sued Cantrell for defamation after being accused of stalking by the mayor. The stalking lawsuit was dismissed by a state judge, prompting the woman to file a lawsuit against Cantrell and several police officers for allegedly accessing state and federal databases without authorization as they sought information on her.
