Trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and his business partner Ronald Markham both plead guilty to a charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in their re-arraignment Tuesday, November 10. Mayfield and Markham had 23 out of the 24 charges against them dropped in their plea deal. The two funneled $1.3 million in public library donations to New Orleans Jazz Orchestra for operating expenses which included $100,000 salaries each for Markham and Mayfield.

The two face up to five years in prison and will be sentenced February 9 by U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey.

In 2002, the trumpeter founded the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, a sixteen-piece jazz ensemble as a nonprofit organization dedicated to perform and promote New Orleans Jazz.  In 2016 he stepped down as artistic director.

ABC News reported: “Prosecutors said that in addition to orchestra operating expenses and salaries for Mayfield and Markham, library foundation money went into Mayfield’s personal bank accounts and toward the purchase of a gold-plated trumpet. Prosecutors said the men also took steps to mislead the library foundation and others about their money transfers, including falsifying foundation board meeting minutes.”

The New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, now led by drummer and artistic director Adonis Rose, has distanced itself from Markham and Mayfield, and continues to perform and to headquartered in the New Orleans Jazz Market in Central City.