Fresh corruption allegations have been levied against New Orleans’ Democrat Mayor LaToya Cantrell amid an FBI probe into her actions in office, sources say.
Cantrell, 52, has been under investigation for over two years, with reports claiming she may face charges over allegations that she received gifts in exchange for firing a high-ranking New Orleans official.
The complex probe has also seen the spotlight fall on police officer Jeffrey Vappie, who faced allegations that he was in a romantic tryst with the mayor, reports NOLA.
Now, sources told the outlet that Vappie may also be set to face charges, potentially over being paid by the city for hours that he allegedly never worked.
Allegations against Cantrell date back over two years, and NOLA reported that insiders with knowledge of the investigation believe she may also face charges.
Cantrell’s office did not immediately return a request for comment.
It is unclear what exactly these charges may be, and detectives have not publicly stated that they plan on bringing charges against her.
Vappie’s resignation came after he was suspended when his wages came under scrutiny, at the same time it was alleged in Vappie’s divorce filing that he was carrying out an affair with a woman named only as ‘Mrs. L-C.’
Vappie’s ex-wife Danielle claimed that her husband and Cantrell had been carrying out an affair since he began working for her security detail in May 2021.
The two were spotted dining at a restaurant together in April 2024, and when his wages were put under the microscope, it was reportedly found that he spent over 100 hours at Cantrell’s apartment over a 27-day stretch.
In 2022, Fox New Orleans also reported that Vappie spent more than five hours of his workday with Cantrell in a publicly owned apartment in the city’s Upper Pontalba section, where they were often spotted together.
Hellbound and Down 