NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Federal prosecutors have entered new evidence in the case involving former New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and former New Orleans Police Department Officer and bodyguard Jeffery Vappie.

Court documents revealed Cantrell reportedly obtained “gifts” which she has not turned over to the courts. Additionally, the court claims misuse of campaign funds as evidence of “other acts.”

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Cantrell and Vappie were indicted on Aug. 15, 2025, on 18 counts including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy of obstruction of justice, obstruction of justice, making false statements to law enforcement and false declaration before a grand jury.

The court document claims that the two “devised a scheme” to defraud and obtain money and property, to which they were not entitled, from the City of New Orleans and NOPD, under false pretenses and promises and attempted to hide it.

“It bolsters the already existing charges of conspiracy, giving false statements to the grand jury and, obstruction of justice,” Legal Analyst Cliff Cardone said.

The conspiracy claims were reportedly dated back to actions done in October 2021.

The alleged actions include, according to court documents:

Destroying and withholding evidence

Creating false evidence

Using a secure messaging application to communicate

Influencing subordinates

Intimidating citizens

Lying to law enforcement authorities

Making false statements to a grand jury

Additionally, Cantrell allegedly violated the law by withholding records and materials requested by a federal grand jury on July 18, 2023.

An affidavit requested all material including jewelry, clothing, gifts, as well as documents referencing pictures, specifically of a small diamond ring and Vappie’s NOPD ring, meals and donated campaign funds, be turned over to the courts.

On several occasions, court documents report Cantrell claimed that she had turned over all requested material and was unaware of remaining items, signing the affidavit while under oath.

Vappie, under oath, also swore that he had turned over all known material, producing 994 pages of requested documents in March 2024

The new court filings reference the two rings, stating Cantrell only produced evidence of the diamond but not the gold NOPD ring. Vappie reportedly did not make mention of the diamond in his documents.

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Obstruction was filed against Cantrell after the jewelry was seen in her possession several times after the subpoena including on her social media while voting and at her portrait unveiling in January 2026.

The court filing further claims misuse of campaign funds, alleging the money was used for alcohol purchase between March 2020 and December 2020. Personally, Cantrell reportedly purchased $9,000 worth of alcohol from a store near her home using the funds. The purchases include, according to court documents:

March 18, 2020: 8 bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne, 4 bottles of Guigal Côtes du Rhône red wine (2016) (totaling $619.36)

April 18, 2020: 12 bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne, 6 bottles of Guigal Côtes du Rhône red wine (2016), 6 bottles of Urban South Brewing Holy Roller IPA (totaling $939.47)

May 23, 2020: 11 bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne, 1 case of Guigal Côtes du Rhône red wine (2016) (totaling $918.76)

June 13, 2020: 8 bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne, 1 bottle of Ayala Brut Majeur champagne, 6 bottles of Urban South Brewing Holy Roller IPA (totaling $610.64)

July 11, 2020: 12 bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne, 24 bottles of Urban South Brewing Holy Roller IPA (totaling $829.41); 1 Odi Moises Praline in a Cookie Mini Jar, 1 champagne recorker (totaling $14.91)

August 8, 2020: 1 case of Veuve Clicquot champagne, 1 case of Gnarly Barley Jucifer IPA (totaling $702.27)

September 2, 2020: 1 case of Veuve Clicquot champagne (totaling $656.30)

October 1, 2020: 7 bottles of Veuve Clicquot rosé, 2 bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne (totaling $538.20)

October 10, 2020: 1 case of Veuve Clicquot champagne (totaling $616.90)

October 25, 2020: 12 bottles of Veuve Clicquot rosé (totaling $735.11)

November 7, 2020: 4 bottles of Veuve Clicquot rosé, 4 bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne, 4 bottles of Laurent Perrier Brut La Cuvée champagne (totaling $638.83)

November 27, 2020: 1 case of Veuve Clicquot champagne (totaling $616.90)

December 24, 2020: 11 bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne, 2 wine bags, 1 bottle of Crown Royal Blended Canadian Whisky, 1 bottle of Patron Tequila Silver (totaling $665.07)

The transactions were labeled in her annual campaign disclosure to the Louisiana Board of Ethics, filed in February 2021, as “food and beverage for supporters/donors.”

“”And again, it just shows a pattern of misconduct that these two have undertaken,” Legal Analyst Cliff Cardone said.

The government seeks to present the information surrounding the rings in Cantrell possession, as evidence intrinsic to the charged crimes, under Federal Rule of Evidence.

Is the evidence admissible though? Cardone believes it is.

“I think this could be significant to, to show, that that she’s a schemer,” Cardone said.

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