New Orleans mayor’s ex-bodyguard pleads not guilty, can have contact with her while awaiting trial

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A former police bodyguard for New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal charges that he filed fraudulent payroll documents and made false statements about an alleged romantic relationship with Cantrell.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Donna Currault allowed Jeffrey Vappie to remain free without bail. She ordered Vappie not to discuss his case with Cantrell. But she stopped short of granting a request from Assistant U.S. Attorney Jordan Ginsburg that Vappie have no contact with Cantrell while the case is pending.

Defense attorney Shaun Clarke had objected strenuously to the prosecution motion, repeatedly referring to Vappie and Cantrell as friends.

“He’s standing here, indicted, because the government has criminalized his friendship with Ms. Cantrell,” Clarke told Currault.

Currault didn’t rule out further restrictions on Vappie’s contact with the mayor but delayed a final decision pending further court arguments.

Charges against Vappie include seven counts of wire fraud. The July 19 indictment cites a series of payroll deposits into Vappie’s bank account for time he claimed to be working as a member of the police department’s “executive protection unit” when, prosecutors allege, he was off duty.

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«RELATED COVERAGE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> RELATED COVERAGE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Appeals court: Separate, distinct minority groups can’t join together to claim vote dilution </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Court holds up Biden