New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell has been charged with fraud and corruption alongside her bodyguard lover Jeffrey Vappie.
The two are reported to have begun their intimate relationship back in October 2021 and have been using public funds to finance themselves.
Back in June 2024, the duo claimed that Mr. Vappie was on duty providing security for the Mayor when, in reality, they were engaging in personal activities.
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Both  LaToya Cantrell and Vappie made 14 domestic and international trips, all of them funded by public funds, according to reports. They have not stated the allegations.
The City of New Orleans has confirmed receiving the allegations and that the lawyers are reviewing them.
Federal prosecutors allege that the lovers used the popular WhatsApp platform to exchange thousands of messages to facilitate their alleged fraud.
For instance, in New Orleans, they treated one hotel as their residence by spending most of their time there.
Personal trips, like that of a Vineyard in California, saw the taxpayer foot their $70,000 expenditure.
Questioned about the trips, Cantrell noted that she needed security during the COVID-19 pandemic, a statement that was challenged with prosecution team citing other trips where she attended alone.
US attorney Michael Simpson said that the allegations do not constitute a crime but a long fraud scheme developed by the duo.
Cantrell has already filed a police report and obtained a restraining order against prosecutors.
If found guilty, they face years in jail or pay a fine above $250,000 (£184,000).
