NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Award-winning trumpeter Irvin Mayfield and his artistic and business partner have pleaded not guilty to federal charges that they spent $1.3 million raised for New Orleans public libraries on themselves.
A public defender was appointed for Mayfield, and bond for him and pianist Ronald Markham was set at $25,000 each during their arraignments Thursday.
Their trial is scheduled to start March 12 before U.S. District Judge Jay Zainey.
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They're accused of taking money from the New Orleans Public Library Foundation. It was allegedly spent on their six-figure salaries at the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, which Mayfield founded, and for hotel rooms, clothes and, for Mayfield, a $15,000 gold-plated trumpet.
