New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell Indicted on Federal Corruption Charges

A federal grand jury has returned a criminal indictment against New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, culminating a years-long corruption investigation that has cast a shadow over her second term. The indictment, handed down on Friday, accuses Mayor Cantrell of a slate of crimes including wire fraud, conspiracy to obstruct justice, false statements, obstruction of justice, and lying to a federal grand jury.

These charges were secured through a superseding indictment in the ongoing case of Jeffrey Vappie, the mayor’s former New Orleans Police Department bodyguard, who now faces additional charges himself. This development marks a significant low point for Mayor Cantrell, who ascended from a City Council seat to the city’s top political office eight years ago.

Cantrell is now the second mayor in New Orleans history, and notably its first sitting mayor, to face criminal charges. Her attorney, Eddie Castaing, and the mayor’s press office did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the indictment.

The indictment raises critical questions about the future of the city’s leadership in the waning months of Cantrell’s tenure, as she is term-limited and set to leave office in January 2026. This remains a developing story, unfolding amidst broader changes within federal law enforcement.

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