Summary
The mayor of New Orleans, LaToya Cantrell, and her bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, face charges of fraud and corruption. Prosecutors claim they misused public funds for personal activities and hid their relationship by using secure messaging with auto-delete functions.
Key Facts
- LaToya Cantrell, the mayor of New Orleans, and her bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, have been charged with fraud and corruption.
- Prosecutors accuse them of using public funds to support an alleged romantic relationship.
- They are said to have misrepresented Mr. Vappie's work duties during trips and personal activities.
- Cantrell and Vappie allegedly used WhatsApp to conceal their communications.
- Prosecutors claim they treated a city-owned apartment as a shared residence.
- The pair reportedly took personal trips under the guise of work, costing $70,000.
- Cantrell claimed a bodyguard was for safety during the pandemic, but prosecutors disagree.
- If convicted, they could face years in prison and fines up to $250,000.
