NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was indicted by a federal grand jury on Friday, August 15, marking the first time in the city’s history that a sitting mayor is facing criminal prosecution.
The mayor’s legal troubles come after more than two years of mounting criticism including; an alleged romantic relationship involving her former executive security officer, a legal battle with a New Orleans resident who took photos of the alleged relationship, a legal battle with New orleans Public Schools over a broken multi-million dollar funding promise, the indictment of a former city inspector who allegedly bribed her with Saints tickets, and frequent travel amid an ongoing jail escape and in the aftermath of a mass power outage.
Details of the indictment have not yet been released at this time.
The federal probe first gained traction in 2023, when Fox 8’s “Outside the Office” investigation uncovered that NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie, who had been assigned to Cantrell’s protective detail, was spending hours with her inside a city-owned apartment while on the clock and possibly being paid for unworked time. Surveillance logs, building access records, and timestamped footage showed Vappie frequently entered the Upper Pontalba apartment while on duty.
Investigators later uncovered that Vappie may have engaged in an inappropriate relationship with the mayor while filing falsified timesheets. Vappie was placed on leave and eventually resigned.
In July 2024, Vappie was indicted on federal charges including wire fraud and falsifying records. Prosecutors allege he lied to cover up a romantic relationship with Cantrell. He has pleaded not guilty.
The indictment also includes allegations that former NOPD Interim Superintendent Michelle Woodfork was pressured by Cantrell to dismiss an internal investigation into Vappie, and her refusal to do so may have cost her the permanent position.
In September 2024, the feds indicted former city inspector Randy Farrell, who allegedly bribed Cantrell with Saints tickets and a steak dinner in exchange for the removal of city employees interfering with his permitting schemes. He is also accused of forging inspection documents and defrauding the city.
Most recently, Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montaño, one of the last remaining high-level members of Cantrell’s original team, announced he would leave his post at the end of August 2025.
The mayor’s spending and travel habits have also come under repeated fire. In 2022, she faced backlash for using public funds to upgrade flights to business class for international travel, defending the practice as “doing business on behalf of the city.”
In 2022, New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell spent nearly $200,000 from her campaign account, with more than a third of those funds going toward image consulting services. Campaign finance records in February 2022 show Cantrell’s campaign paid $60,000 to Jolie Image Consulting, owned by Tanya Haynes, and another $12,000 to Erica Warren.
Haynes allegedly told store employees she was purchasing clothing for the mayor to wear at public events like Essence Fest and a 2018 royal visit.
In November 2022, FOX 8 reported that federal agents had visited Ballin’s Ltd., a high-end New Orleans fashion boutique, as part of their investigation. FBI agents questioned employees and collected receipts and documents related to purchases made by Tanya Blunt-Haynes, a salon owner and personal shopper who also served as Cantrell’s stylist.
Cantrell has repeatedly denied wrongdoing.
“How I came in seems to be how I’m going out. Accusation after accusation after accusation,” Cantrell said defiantly at a budget presentation in October 2024.
At a U.S. Conference of Mayors meeting in Tampa in June, Cantrell called the scrutiny she has faced while in office “disrespectful.”
Cantrell made history in November 2017 when elected as New Orleans’ first Black woman mayor. She has made history again as the city’s first sitting mayor to face criminal charges.
Former Mayor Ray Nagin, who served six years of a 10-year federal prison sentence for wire fraud, bribery and money laundering convictions, had been out of office for 32 months when he was indicted in January 2013.
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