After an unfortunate series of events, it's been discovered that Grammy-winner Irvin Mayfield's jazz orchestra has rescinded its promise to pay restitution to a public library charity in New Orleans that "donated" $1.03 million to Mayfield's organization. The decision to repay the funds came after an investigation revealed that Mayfield and longtime business partner, Ronald Markham, were in on a shady donation scandal.
Last May, the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra accepted a grant from the New Orleans Public Library Foundation, an organization headed by Markham. After WWL-TV orchestrated an investigation into the alleged donation, the NOJO Board of Director agreed that the sum would be paid back in full through charitable efforts.
However, when recently asked about paying back the funds, Jazz Orchestra spokesman Malcom Ehrhardt said in a statement:
"In May 2015, the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra Board of Directors retained outside counsel to conduct a thorough and independent financial and ethical review regarding questions about its funding and relationships with various organizations. This review found that no funds allocated to the NOJO by these organizations were improperly spent on projects or initiatives for which they were not intended. Likewise, the funds allocated to the NOJO by these organizations were not used to personally benefit NOJO leaders in the form of salaries, bonuses, commissions or additional compensation."
News of the payments sparked public outrage, even inciting strong condemnation from Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Now the NOPLF and the NOJO have launched their own separate investigations to determine the amount of money misused by the organization.
How the situation will end still remains to be seen but it's certain the both companies have been outted for foul play and will not likely receive grants anytime soon until the investigation has been concluded.
For now, though, check out a preview of the NOJO below.
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