New Orleans Jazz trumpeter Irvin Mayfield is a talented musician, and he was one of the faces that represented New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. But his actions have led to a monumental fall from grace.
Irvin Mayfield and his pianist/business partner Ronald Markham were part of the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and board members of the New Orleans Library Foundation. Mayfield and Markham used their positions to steal $1.3 million from the Library Foundation.
Yesterday, the two criminals were sentenced to serve 18 months out of a possible 5 year maximum sentence in federal prison for ripping off the Library Foundation. In addition, U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey ordered the men to serve 500 hours of community service by giving music lessons to children. Judge Zainey also said the pair must pay back $1.123 million in restitution.
The judge said Mayfield deserved more than the 5 year maximum sentence, but said if he were in prison that long he would not be able to earn money to pay back the library or do some good by giving children music lessons. That sound nice, but does every criminal receive the same consideration? I think not.
Irvin Mayfield was a true ambassador for the city of New Orleans, and he took advantage of the opportunity to steal money to increase his salary and purchase extravagant luxuries.
This past June I wrote a blog that was highly critical of New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell for praising Mayfield as a “true son of the city.” Cantrell used a public setting to compliment Irvin Mayfield after he had pleaded guilty to ripping off the Library Foundation. Cantrell also asked that we continue to support Mayfield.
Related
I condemned Mayor Cantrell for her comments. The mayor used poor judgment in her encouraging words about Mayfield.
At the sentencing, Mayfield did apologize, saying, “To my city, community, friends, I hope you can accept my apology” and went on to say that “I take full responsibility.”
We can accept Mayfield’s apology and taking responsibility for what he did, but let’s remember that he also lied and tried to cover up what he had done. But I believe that Mayfield’s status and connection to the mayor and others contributed to a lighter sentence. Mayfield and Markham should have at least been sentenced to half of the maximum 5 year sentence, which would have been 2 ½ years rather than 1 ½ years.
The saddest aspect of what Irvin Mayfield did is that it reminds us that so many people cannot seem to resist the temptation to steal if given the opportunity. Is the opportunity to steal money so overwhelming that it’s impossible to be honest? And while we were all respecting and admiring Irvin Mayfield, was he really a criminal at heart?
When people like Irvin Mayfield disappoint us – we initially question our ability to judge others. Shame on Irvin Mayfield for causing us to question our judgment of others.
And if you are critical of what Mayfield did – could you resist the temptation to steal if the opportunity was presented? I hope so.