New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell is scheduled to appear in federal court to face charges of conspiracy, fraud, and obstruction related to an alleged affair with her former bodyguard, Jeffrey Vappie, which involved misuse of taxpayer funds.

The indictment alleges that Cantrell and Vappie exchanged over 15,000 WhatsApp messages discussing their relationship, plotting to harass a whistleblower, and making false statements to FBI agents, with evidence pointing to an affair rather than official city business.

Court documents reveal that Cantrell has denied any romantic involvement, claiming her interactions with Vappie were solely professional, but evidence shows extensive personal communication and trips, including a trip to Scotland in October 2021.

Prosecutors accuse Cantrell and Vappie of defrauding the city by falsifying paperwork to cover approximately $70,000 in travel expenses, falsely portraying trips as official city business.

Vappie has pleaded not guilty to wire fraud and false statements and is scheduled to face additional charges on September 13, 2025, while Cantrell is expected to enter a plea of not guilty at her arraignment.

Since the indictment was announced in mid-August, Cantrell has largely remained silent, avoiding public appearances and not addressing the charges publicly, including during recent city events.

The court will consider pre-trial conditions such as detention and bond, with travel restrictions possible but detention unlikely, and a trial date is likely to be set during her arraignment, though it may be postponed multiple times.

During her court appearance, Cantrell is expected to enter a plea, likely not guilty, and the judge will set dates for pretrial motions and the trial.

Cantrell has faced political pressures and federal scrutiny, including suspension from federal transactions with HUD and criticism related to her handling of federal issues, which she has publicly criticized as racial double standards.

She denies any romantic involvement with Vappie, asserting her interactions were professional, but court documents and evidence suggest extensive personal communication and trips, leading to allegations of an affair.

The indictment accuses Cantrell and Vappie of having an affair rather than engaging in official city work, with evidence including over 15,000 WhatsApp messages discussing love, harassment plots, and evidence tampering.

Her legal issues place her among over 100 individuals in Louisiana charged with corruption over the past two decades, highlighting a broader pattern of political corruption in the state.

It is unlikely that the trial will occur before Cantrell leaves office in early January due to term limits, and her legal proceedings are expected to extend beyond her mayoral term.