New Orleans Mayor Charged in Historic Indictment
LaToya Cantrell, the Mayor of New Orleans, made history recently by becoming the first mayor in the city’s 307-year legacy to be charged with a federal crime. The charges were brought against her in court, including conspiracy, wire fraud, making false statements, interfering with justice, and providing false declarations.
Cantrell, who holds the distinction of being the first female mayor in New Orleans, faces serious allegations that emerge from a federal investigation which began back in 2022. Reports indicate that the grand jury started reviewing evidence as early as February 2024. Interestingly, previous charges related to this case were mentioned last September, involving accusations that Cantrell tried to cover up alleged misconduct with gifts totaling around $9,000.
These gifts reportedly included tickets to the NFC Championship, dining at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, and even a mobile phone, all tied to an investigation into a city official over fraud claims.
The indictment also sheds light on Cantrell’s relationship with Jeffrey Bappy, a member of her security team, which purportedly began during a trip to Scotland in October 2021. The pair allegedly spent significant time together, with claims suggesting that Cantrell misused city funds, as Bappy engaged in personal activities while on duty and being paid for official protection duties.
It’s claimed that she went on at least 14 out-of-state trips, incurring costs to the city exceeding $70,000, all under the guise of needing security. Moreover, the allegations include improper usage of a city-owned apartment, where Bappy allegedly spent time during his official duties.
In a further twist, the indictment suggests that Cantrell and Bappy attempted to obstruct federal investigations through tactics like using encrypted messaging apps, deleting digital evidence, and providing misleading statements to the court. Notably, out of 16 grand jurors, at least 12 supported the indictment against her.
Despite the mounting charges, Cantrell has consistently denied any fraud. Of course, her legal troubles aren’t new and come after a series of controversies regarding lawsuits for photo releases and issues like school funding and ongoing crises such as prison escapes and power outages in the city.
A request for commentary from Cantrell’s office went unanswered at the time of publication.
