NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Federal prosecutors can tell jurors that a gold NOPD ring allegedly gifted from Jeffrey Vappie to LaToya Cantrell helps prove they had an inappropriate romantic relationship and withheld it as evidence from FBI agents, a judge ruled Tuesday (July 7).
The government says the gold ring — allegedly seen in photographs being worn by Vappie and later by Cantrell — was concealed by the former New Orleans mayor and her former bodyguard when they responded to a grand jury subpoena and federal agents.
Prosecutors will be able to argue the concealment is another overt act that was part of their scheme to make false statements and defraud taxpayers while pursuing their secret relationship at public expense, U.S. District Judge Wendy Vitter ruled…