Mayor LaToya Cantrell indicted: What happens next?

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Last Friday, Mayor LaToya Cantrell made history becoming the first sitting New Orleans mayor to be indicted on federal charges.

Now, the focus shifts to what comes next in the legal process.

Cantrell is expected to voluntarily surrender; a step arranged between her attorney and federal prosecutors. That will lead to an arraignment, where she’ll appear before a federal judge to hear the charges and enter a plea.

“They call it a surrender,” Legal Analyst Cliff Cardone said. “So, typically what happens is the attorney representing the mayor will call up the U.S. attorney’s office and tell the U.S. attorney that we want to surrender her, and arraignments will be made for her to appear in front of a federal magistrate.”

At that stage, Cantrell will be booked, possibly photographed, and may be asked to surrender her passport. The judge will then decide whether she is released on her own recognizance or required to post bond.

“It’s going to be a question of whether this person is a danger to herself or society at large, and that will be used to determine what the bond is,” Cardone said.

The charges stem from what federal prosecutors say was an attempt to cover up her relationship with former NOPD bodyguard Jeffrey Vappie.

But the indictment isn’t the only challenge Cantrell faces. She’s also being sued in a civil case tied to a woman who photographed her with Vappie in the French Quarter. Federal records show liens on her home for unpaid taxes and work from a roofing company.

Cardone warned the legal fight will demand much of her time, “She’s going to be spending most of her time in the next year preparing for a defense which consequently will take her away from city business.”

Rafael Goyeneche with the Metropolitan Crime Commission said the arraignment could come within days, adding, “The arraignment is just a formality. 99.99% of the time the accused comes in and pleads not guilty.”

After arraignment, the timeline to trial remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, the City of New Orleans released a statement saying Cantrell remains focused on her duties:

“Today, Mayor LaToya Cantrell expressed her gratitude to the dedicated employees of the City of New Orleans for their continued commitment to serving the citizens of our city. All city services remain operational, government functions continue to move forward, and Mayor Cantrell remains focused on doing the job each day for the City of New Orleans.”

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