New Orleans mayor sued for federal corruption charges | New Orleans

this New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell was indicted on Friday on the charges of federal corruption charges after about three years of investigation.

The indictment against Cantrell follows a September 2024 lawsuit against local businessman Randy Farrell, who was charged with exchanging gifts with the mayor so that she would allegedly fire a municipal employee who is investigating Farrell’s construction inspection company.

The so-called gift includes tickets for January 2019 New Orleans Saints Football, showing up in the Super Bowl online, lunch at the Chris Steak House in high-end Ruth.

Cantrell also reviewed the suspected marriage of the now-retired New Orleans police officer, who served as a bodyguard. Bodyguard Jeffrey Vappie allegedly claimed that he actually had a “personal and romantic relationship” with the mayor when he was working.

Vappie was charged as co-defendant in a lawsuit against Cantrell on Friday, with all details not immediately available as Guardian reports partner WWL Louisiana Report. Previously, he was charged with wire fraud in July 2024 shortly after retiring from the New Orleans Police Department in July 2024.

Allegations summon 2018 scandal cost Nashville Mayor Megan Barry has an affair with bodyguard Robert Forrest. Prosecutors on Vappie’s 2024 charges claimed he studied the case online two years ago.

Both Vappie and Farrell pleaded not guilty to the charges previously filed against them.

and Donald TrumpThe U.S. Department of Justice’s indictment against Cantrell within about seven months of the Republican presidency, a federal investigation into the mayor began, and Joe Biden was her fellow Democrats — in the second year of the Oval Office.

Cantrell’s attorney Eddie Castaing confirmed to the Associated Press on Friday that he filed a lawsuit against his client. He also said the federal magistrate read her name aloud as the defendant.

Cantrell is from Compton, California Win the election As mayor in November 2017. So she became the first female mayor of New Orleans Re-elected Four years later.

Her second term – the accidental death of her husband in August 2023 – will end in January 2026. Cantrell was appointed as a restriction, thus limiting another term as mayor, with several candidates signed to run for the October primary.

Cantrell became Mayor of New Orleans Friday and was charged with federal crimes while still in office. The federal investigation into her began with the 2022 subpoena of the image consultant she hired.

In the city’s 307-year history, only one person who served as mayor of New Orleans has been sued for federal corruption charges: Ray Nagin.

Nakin was the mayor of New Orleans when the city was destroyed on August 29, 2005 during Hurricane Katrina and killed 1,400 people. In 2014, he was convicted for bribery, honest service of wire fraud, money laundering, filing false tax returns and conspiracy, and was Sentenced In prison for 10 years.

this The Associated Press contributed the report