Months before New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was set to leave office, she has been indicted in what prosecutors allege was a yearslong scheme to conceal a romantic relationship with her bodyguard. She and Jeffrey Vappie are accused of exchanging encrypted messages through WhatsApp to avoid detection and erasing them. The pair has said their relationship was professional. The indictment describes it as “personal and intimate.” She has been charged with conspiracy, fraud and obstruction. Vappie was already facing charges of wire fraud and making false statements. He has pleaded not guilty. A grand jury returned an 18-count indictment Friday. The City of New Orleans says the mayor’s attorney is reviewing the indictment.
