Jeffrey Paul Vappie II, 52, a resident of New Orleans, was indicted Friday on seven counts of wire fraud, in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1343, for perpetrating a scheme to defraud the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD).
Vappie was additionally indicted for making false statements to agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1001(a)(2).
According to the indictment, Vappie was a New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) officer from April 1997 until his resignation in June 2024. Vappie was assigned to serve as a member of the Executive Protection Unit (EPU), which is responsible for providing personal protection for the Mayor of the City of New Orleans.
At least as early as November 2021, Vappie and Public Official 1 developed and carried on a personal and romantic relationship. Vappie attempted to disguise this relationship by making his interactions with Public Official 1 appear related to Vappie’s duties and responsibilities as a member of EPU.
In doing so, Vappie submitted false timecards to NOPD in which he claimed to be working when, in fact, he was engaged in personal activities, including carrying on a personal and romantic relationship with Public Official 1.
Vappie took other steps to further and conceal the scheme to defraud. For example, among these personal activities, VAPPIE spent substantial time inside an apartment owned by the City of New Orleans to which Public Official 1 had access. Additionally, he ate meals and consumed alcohol with Public Official 1, all while being paid to work as a member of EPU.
Vappie also travelled on purported work-related trips with Public Official 1, paid for by the City of New Orleans.
Vappie and Public Official 1 exchanged personal and romantic messages and photographs via an encrypted instant messaging application to avoid detection and continue their relationship. This exchange of messages and photographs occurred as Vappie continued to claim only a professional relationship with Public Official 1 and continued to serve as a member of EPU.
Near the conclusion of an NOPD administrative investigation into his alleged wrongdoing, Vappie attempted to influence the Interim Superintendent of the New Orleans Police Department into exonerating him.
During an interview with FBI agents at Vappie’s residence on July 14, 2023, Vappie made several false statements, including that Vappie did not have, and had never had, a physical or romantic relationship with Public Official 1, that Vappie had never kissed Public Official 1, and that Vappie had never told Public Official 1 that Vappie loved Public Official 1.
For each count of wire fraud, Vappie faces up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee. For the false statements count, Vappie faces up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, up to a $250,000 fine, and a $100 mandatory special assessment fee.
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