Officials allege she defrauded the city while trying to keep hidden her relationship with a police officer assigned to protect her.

The indictment is the culmination of a long-running federal corruption investigation into Cantrell, the first female mayor in the city’s 300-year history.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell's historic indictment outlines what federal officials describe as a years-long scheme to defraud the city and its police department. Why it matters: Despite the city's long reputation for corruption, Cantrell became its first mayor to face criminal charges while in office.