Just days after his early release from prison, New Orleans native trumpeter Irvin Mayfield has been added to the musical lineup for the Lundi Gras Festival, according to the festival’s website.
Mayfield was convicted in 2021 of illegally funneling money meant for charity funds into his personal bank accounts. The musician then used the money, which was donated under the pretense of enriching public libraries in the Crescent City, on lavish extravagancies like stays at the Ritz-Carlton and a 24-karat gold-plated and bejeweled trumpet.
In all, Mayfield and business partner Ronald Markham were ordered by the court to return over $1.3 million to the New Orleans Public Library Foundation, and Mayfield was sentenced to 18 months in prison.
The once-iconic NOLA musician was also ordered to fulfill community service obligations in the form of 500 hours of free music lessons for New Orleans youth.
Mayfield was released from incarceration three months ahead of schedule and will now join a musical lineup that also includes DJ Jubilee and Kermit Ruffins entertaining the gathered crowd ahead of the arrival of 2023’s newly-crowned King Zulu on the Great Lawn at Woldenberg Park.
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