Jackson Jambalaya

 Jackson Mayor Chokwe Antar Lumumba is not the only Mayor under investigation.  The Feds are investigating New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell as well.  The Times-Picayune reported:

 a federal probe looming over Cantrell has upended the second-term mayor’s public identity, shrouding her administration in a notable silence as she faces the gravest threat yet to her political life.

When a federal grand jury returned an indictment in mid-July against Cantrell’s longtime bodyguard and alleged paramour, former New Orleans police officer Jeffrey Vappie, the mayor said nothing. Her office canceled a town hall a few days later where her administration was set to take questions from residents on the city budget, a tradition that had already been scaled back from previous years. She left swiftly after delivering prepared remarks at multiple public events in the past two weeks. Reporters seeking to buttonhole her were met by staffers physically blocking them from getting close to the mayor....

Federal prosecutors are nearing the end of a two-year probe into Cantrell’s office, according to sources familiar with the investigation. And last month, they filed corruption charges against Vappie, alleging he lied about his relationship with the mayor and fabricated timesheets.

Cantrell has not been charged, and both she and Vappie have vehemently denied allegations that they pursued a romantic relationship....  Rest of article.

 

The Justice Department issued the following statement on July 19: 

U.S. Attorney Duane A. Evans announced that JEFFREY PAUL VAPPIE, II (“VAPPIE”), age 52, a resident of New Orleans, was indicted today on seven (7) counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, for perpetrating a scheme to defraud the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD). VAPPIE was additionally indicted for making false statements to agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2).

According to the indictment, VAPPIE was a New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officer from April 1997 until his resignation in June 2024. VAPPIE was assigned to serve as a member of the Executive Protection Unit (EPU) responsible for providing personal protection for the Mayor of the City of New Orleans. At least as early as November 2021, VAPPIE and Public Official 1 developed and carried on a personal and romantic relationship. VAPPIE attempted to disguise this relationship by making his interactions with Public Official 1 appear related to VAPPIE’s duties and responsibilities as a member of EPU. In doing so, VAPPIE submitted false timecards to NOPD in which he claimed to be working when, in fact, he was engaged in personal activities, including carrying on a personal and romantic relationship with Public Official 1.

VAPPIE took other steps to further and conceal the scheme to defraud. For example, among these personal activities, VAPPIE spent substantial time inside an apartment owned by the City of New Orleans to which Public Official 1 had access. Additionally, he ate meals and consumed alcohol with Public Official 1, all while being paid to work as a member of EPU. VAPPIE also traveled on purported work-related trips with Public Official 1, paid for by the City of New Orleans. VAPPIE and Public Official 1 exchanged personal and romantic messages and photographs via an encrypted instant messaging application, to avoid detection and continue their relationship. This exchange of messages and photographs occurred as VAPPIE continued to claim only a professional relationship with Public Official 1 and continued to serve as a member of EPU. Near the conclusion of an NOPD administrative investigation into his alleged wrongdoing, VAPPIE attempted to influence the Interim Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department into exonerating him. During an interview with FBI agents at VAPPIE’s residence on July 14, 2023, VAPPIE made several false statements, including that VAPPIE did not have, and had never had, a physical or romantic relationship with Public Official 1, that VAPPIE had never kissed Public Official 1, and that VAPPIE had never told Public Official 1 that VAPPIE loved Public Official 1.

For each count of wire fraud, VAPPIE faces up to twenty (20) years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. For the false statements count, VAPPIE faces up to five (5) years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.

U.S. Attorney Evans reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

U.S. Attorney Evans praised the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in investigating this matter and expressed appreciation for the support provided by the City of New Orleans Office of Inspector General and the Metropolitan Crime Commission. Assistant United States Attorneys Jordan Ginsberg, Chief of the Public Integrity Unit, and Nicholas D. Moses, of the Financial Crimes Unit and Health Care Coordinator, are in charge of the prosecution.