Mayor Cantel inspired for cheating in alleged conspiracy and relationship scam

New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantarel was charged on federal allegations on Friday, alleging that he took a “intimate relationship” with a taxpayer-funded security guard and conspired to cheat more than $ 70,000 city, according to a supersing intoxication. US District Court For the eastern district of Louisiana.

The 18-Saying Prosecution has been accused of Cantarel, 53, and former New Orleans Police officer Jeffrey Wappy of conspiracy, wire fraud, obstructing justice, making false statements and making false announcements before a grand jury.

“Our office knows about the prosecution that was filed against Mayor Latoya Cantarel today,” a spokesperson of City Councilman JP Moral said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “This is a sad day for the people of New Orleans. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Cantel family because they navigate through this difficult time.”

“All are considered innocent under the law. Mayor Cantarel is entitled to the estimate,” the City Councilman who has been written by GIRCO on X. “It would unfortunately be sensational because it includes the mayor and will further interrupt the operation of the city. However, let the facts play out and do not hurry for the decision.”

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Prosecutors say the pair “developed a personal and intimate relationship” in or around October 2021 and hid it “to maximize simultaneously”, exploiting their official positions for personal gain.

“Overall, the trips to Vappi with Cantrall are different from the cost of more than $ 70,000 New Orleans, Cantarel,” stated in the prosecution.

Federal prosecutors say that those trips, all included at least 14, Los Angeles’ visit; San Francisco; Washington DC; And Scotland, claiming the time sheet with Waypi, was working in his role on the mayor’s executive protection unit while engaging in personal activities.

The prosecution alleged that he was warned by a colleague to end the relationship, “it is a hooliganism that your lover be paid to work and pay his journey to the city. The mayor of Nashville would have to pay back as 50k and serve 3 years of probation. He is not allowed!

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The prosecution alleged that “during the shifts, Vappi claimed to be on duty for EPU, often spent time with both Cantarel and alone inside the Pontalba apartment.” Federal prosecutors say it was part of a comprehensive plan to hide the pair’s personal relationship while billing for the city for hours. According to local reports, Vippi’s wife filed for divorce citing alleged relations in the court.

In the French Quarter, a unit owned by a historical city, a unit, has long been considered a formal perk of the mayor’s office, used to host dignitaries, mardi grass festivals and other official functions, not as a permanent residence.

The prosecution also shows details of individual messages that the pair allegedly exchanged through WhatsApp, including June 11, 2022, photo Cantel sent a ring of a ring on his finger with caption, “Hey, did you tell [them] Did you put a ring on it? “. In another message, Cantel allegedly wrote,” When we are really alone (travel), make me the worst “.

The prosecutors further alleged that the Cantel tried to cover the relationship to remove the messages, activated a setting to disappear within 24 hours and took an oath for a federal grand jury about turning all the requested evidence, stopping more than 50 photos from his personal equipment.

Cantarel’s tenure was already marked by public dispute, recently on a French quarter trash controversy. He ended the cleanliness contract of IV waste, widely praised for his cleanliness services, in favor of a individual firm through an emergency declaration, sparking backlash from city council officials, and filing from Louisiana Attorney General condemned the move “misuse of emergency powers.”

Cantarel, who was first elected in 2017 and re -elected in 2021, has earlier faced several moral complaints. His prosecution may change the city’s political scenario a lot before the October 2025 mayoral race. City Councilman Helena Moreno is widely considered to be at the forefront. Fox News has reached Moreno for digital comment, but has not received any response yet.

In an unrelated incident in 2022, the Mayor Cantrall made headlines when she stepped into a physical change in a ladies room at a ROB49 rap concert in Filmore Nola. The footage showed her a stressful deadlock; At that time his Director of Communications praised him for interfering, called it his motto: “If you see something, do something.”

In addition, in 2022, Activist and former Cantarel employee Elene Carter and Community Figure Belden “Noni Man” launched a recall campaign claiming that the Mayor “had failed to keep New Orleans first and executed the situation responsibilities.” Despite presenting tens of thousands of signatures, the organizers were well reduced. Voting according toAround 67,000 signatures were presented, but only 27,243 were valid, which was below 45,000 required to trigger a recall election.

The first female mayor Cantrall, the first female mayor in the history of the city, is now the first sitting mayor to face criminal allegations.

If found guilty, the potential maximum punishment wire is up to five years for the conspiracy to fraud; Counting up to 20 years per count for wire fraud; Up to 20 years for a conspiracy to obstruct justice; Up to five years for Vappie’s allegation of false-stagnation; Up to 20 years for the blockage charge of the cantarel; And up to five years per year for Cantarel’s false-proclamation fee.

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Both may face up to $ 250,000 per count, a special assessment of $ 100 per count and was overseen for three years on each count.

The office of New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantral did not respond to the request for Fox News Digital’s comment.