Latest federal subpoena indicates imminent indictment in Cantrell and Vappie case

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – The federal investigation into New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell and former NOPD Officer Jeffrey Vappie has moved another step forward, prompting the head of the Metropolitan Crime Commission to predict imminent indictment.

Last month, Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ginsburg, the lead prosecutor in the Cantrell case, sent a subpoena to Fox 8 demanding that it turn over all “Outside the Office” reports that aired since February 22, 2024. It is the second subpoena Fox 8 has received in connection with the investigation.

This subpoena includes two stories. One shows a photo obtained by the MCC of Cantrell and Vappie eating on the balcony of a French Quarter restaurant while Vappie was on duty. Another story showed a 2022 photo sent by a source showing Cantrell and Vappie at the bar of the Doris Metropolitan restaurant, with Vappie also on duty and holding a wine glass.

“That suggests to me that this investigation is coming to an end,” said MCC President Rafael Goyeneche. “They’ve already seen the videos on your station’s website, so they have access to them. They need the actual certified copy. They’re going to present that to a grand jury. That’s part of the government’s argument.”

In February, federal investigators subpoenaed Fox 8 for previous Outside the Office reports.

“When they subpoena these documents, they want to present them to the grand jury. They will seek an indictment. They will explain how this fits into the government’s prosecution theory,” Goyeneche said.

Goyeneche says any potential charges against a sitting mayor would likely be reviewed by federal Justice Department officials outside New Orleans.

Fox 8 began reporting on subpoenas related to the investigation in November 2022. The subpoenas were sent to clothing stores in connection with purchases made by Cantrell’s image consultant.

As the federal investigation nears its conclusion, Dillard University political analyst Dr. Robert Collins says Cantrell has been conspicuously quiet in recent weeks. And Vappie retired from the police force last Saturday.

When a grand jury indicted her former 911 chief, Tyrell Morris, on June 8, Cantrell and her communications assistant refused to answer questions.

The mayor has recently missed at least two press conferences she was scheduled to attend.

On June 12, the Greater New Orleans Foundation issued a press release shortly before 9 a.m. saying that Cantrell would attend a press conference announcing the Gayle and Tom Benson Disaster Relief Fund. However, the mayor was not present at the afternoon press conference.

On June 18, U.S. Congressman Troy Carter (D-New Orleans) announced a $4 million grant for an indoor swimming pool in Algiers. Carter said the mayor would attend, but she herself would not.

“In my opinion, she is being advised by her attorney (Eddie Castaing) – a very smart criminal defense attorney – not to make any statements to the press or the public relating to the evidence in the case,” Collins said. “Because prosecutors could then seize on those statements and potentially use them against her at a later date.”

OUTSIDE THE OFFICE

Collins says the best thing for taxpayers would be for the investigation to be concluded soon, with or without charges.

“It’s just such a distraction to the citizens of the city. This has to stop one way or another,” he said. “We have to know one way or another. Either there was no criminal act and she could be acquitted, or there was criminal act. Then the prosecution needs to file charges so they can present their evidence to a jury and we can have a trial and this can be settled once and for all.”

“The fact that these investigations are simply hanging over the mayor’s office and stirring up a shadow and rumors in City Hall is not healthy. It will disrupt people’s business, taxpayers’ business in the future.”

Neither Castaing nor Vappie’s lawyer Harry Rosenberg would comment on the new subpoena or the status of the investigation.

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