New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has been indicted on multiple charges.
Cantrell is facing charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, false statements, obstruction of justice and false declaration before a grand jury.
The indictment alleges that in October 2021, Cantrell and Vappie developed a personal relationship and hid that relationship to maximize their time together.
Here’s a full timeline of how the investigation into Cantrell and Vappie’s alleged relationship started:
Investigation launched:
In September 2022, the Metropolitan Crime Commission issued a report shedding light on Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s use of the then-city-owned Pontalba apartment.
The MCC issued photos of her entering the apartment, attending gym classes in the French Quarter, and sitting on the balcony.
The report accused the mayor of living at the apartment full-time.
In November 2022, it came to light that one of the mayor’s officers on her security detail, Jeffrey Vappie, was accused of having a relationship with the mayor while also working on her detail.
An investigation was launched by the PIB into the allegations and Vappie was later taken off the mayor’s detail.
Vappie’s timecards would become the center of a PIB investigation. His timecards showed him routinely working more than 16-hour shifts while serving on the mayor’s security team.
Leaked audio from the PIB investigation showed Vappie being grilled on staying at the Pontalba apartments at the same time as the mayor.
A divorce filing from Vappie’s wife alleged that their possible relationship started in 2021.
The PIB’s investigation concluded that Vappie violated NOPD’s professionalism rules and duties, as well as timecard infractions.
A federal judge ruled that the PIB’s investigation violated the consent decree due to the way it was handled.
Some of those violations include:
- Failing to accurately and completely record all allegations against Vappie.
- Failing to give meaningful consideration to circumstantial evidence available to the PIB investigators that could have suggested to a reasonable person that Vappie charged the NOPD for time not worked.
- Failing to take reasonable measures to protect the confidentiality of its investigatory materials.
In response to this federal ruling, NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick sent Judge Morgan a remedial plan. She promised to improve PIB training and be more transparent with investigations with monitors during the process.
Following the PIB investigation and federal ruling, Vappie was reassigned to the mayor’s security team in January 2023.
Vappie continued on the mayor’s detail until April 25, 2024, when new photos surfaced of Mayor Cantrell and Vappie eating lunch in the French Quarter.
The MCC pressed for an investigation into whether or not the lunch was paid for by the city.
The pictures showed Cantrell and Vappie drinking wine during the lunch. The MCC also questioned whether or not Vappie was on the clock.
In June 2024, it was confirmed that Vappie would be resigning from the NOPD effective June 29.
He had been with the department since 1997.
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READ MORE:Here is a full timeline leading up to the indictment of Mayor LaToya Cantrell
