July 22nd 2024.
Jeffrey Vappie, a former police officer who had the important role of protecting New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, is facing serious charges of wire fraud. The accusations against Vappie have caused quite a stir, particularly because they have led to investigations into his alleged romantic involvement with Mayor Cantrell.
A federal grand jury indicted Vappie on July 19, charging him with seven counts of wire fraud and one count of lying to investigators. In a 19-page document, referred to as the indictment, prosecutors mentioned Cantrell, known as "Public Official 1," and claimed that Vappie had attempted to conceal the true nature of their relationship through a scheme involving falsified payroll records.
According to the legal filing, which was reported by Nola.com, Vappie submitted and certified timecards for work he claimed to have done, when in reality he was spending time on personal and recreational activities, including his romantic involvement with Mayor Cantrell. It is alleged that Vappie received $7,177 in paychecks between August 2022 and April 2024 for hours that were actually spent indulging in his relationship with the mayor. He also faces charges for repeatedly denying the affair to federal agents.
The indictment also revealed details about Vappie and Cantrell's attempts to hide their relationship, including Google searches for mayors dating their security and watching the 1992 film The Bodyguard, starring Whitney Houston. Text messages, voice messages, and WhatsApp messages were also used as evidence of their involvement.
In response to the indictment, Leatrice Dupre, a spokesperson for Cantrell, released a brief statement stating that they will not be commenting on the matter at this time out of respect for the ongoing investigation.
This indictment marks the end of a lengthy investigation that was initiated by the FBI. The case gained significant attention after local news outlet Fox 8 received a subpoena for their reports in June. Vappie retired from the New Orleans police department amidst the allegations against him.
Further complaints arose in the spring when new photographs of Vappie and Cantrell dining together in various locations throughout New Orleans surfaced. The investigation also coincided with the FBI's probe into the mayor for potential unlawful dealings with campaign donors.
While Cantrell has not yet been charged in connection with Vappie's case, former Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Coman believes she may be the next target of prosecution. He stated that the inclusion of references to "Public Official 1" in the indictment suggests that the prosecutors are heavily scrutinizing her actions and that this could potentially lead to criminal charges against her.
Vappie's arraignment is scheduled for July 31. This development comes amidst other controversies, such as the New Orleans City Council's recent decision to evict Mayor Cantrell from her apartment. As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen what the future holds for both Vappie and Cantrell.
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