A federal judge sentenced New Orleans Jazz musician Irvin Mayfield to 18 months in prison and ordered him to provide 500 hours of free music lessons to children.
The judge gave Mayfield until January 5, 2022, to turn himself in to begin his prison sentence. Mayfield's business associate, Ronald Markham, also received 18 months in prison.
"I’m telling you right now, gentlemen, you’re going to jail," Judge Jay C. Zainey told the defendants shortly before delivering the sentence. Defense lawyers argued for no jail time during the sentencing hearing.
The Grammy-winning jazz trumpeter and Markham plead guilty in federal court to embezzling more than $1.3 million in donations from New Orleans’ Public Library Foundation when Mayfield and Markham were on the public library board.
Prosecutors argued Mayfield and Markham, transferred the money to the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra to pay themselves six-figure salaries, pay for lavish trips, top-shelf alcohol, and a 24-karat gold plated trumpet.
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A federal grand jury indicted them and charged them with 24 counts of conspiracy, fraud, money laundering, obstruction of justice, and false statements.
Last year Mayfield and Markham pleaded guilty to the indictment of conspiracy to commit wire and mail fraud which carries a maximum of five years in prison.
At Wednesday’s sentencing, the judge heard emotional testimony from Mayfield supporters such as local jazz musician Kermit Ruffins and former NOPD Chief Eddie Compass in an attempt at a lesser sentence for Mayfield.
Mayfield apologized to the court saying he “did a terrible job” when he was on the public library board.
According to Department of Justice records, Mayfield became a board member of NOPLF in August 2006. He later became Chairman of the board in November 2010.
During his time on the NOPLF board, Mayfield also maintained his position with NOJO. In December 2009, Markham became a board member of NOPLF. He later became Chairman of the board in September 2013 upon MAYFIELD’s resignation as Chairman of NOPLF said the DOJ report.