MCC REFERRAL YIELDS INDICTMENTS FOR MAYFIELD AND MARKHAM ALONG WITH SCATHING AUDIT OF THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ ORCHESTRA
The MCC’s investigation into Irvin Mayfield and Ronald Markham began in 2013 with misconduct allegations regarding the New Orleans Public Library Foundation (NOPLF) and New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO). The MCC made referrals to the FBI and Legislative Auditor’s Office. At the end of 2017, Mayfield and Markham were charged with 19 counts including conspiracy, wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, and obstruction of justice related to the transferring of money from the NOPLF to the NOJO. The Legislative Auditor released their investigative audit in 2018 documenting NOJO’s misuse of grant funds and state funds on operating expenses, travel, entertainment, and other personal purposes in violation of state law. Mayfield and Markham were also hit with two superseding indictments and they will face 24 counts when they go on trial in the fall of 2019.
HIGH-RANKING TULANE POLICE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS FIRED AFTER INVESTIGATION
The MCC informed Tulane University in early February 2018 of our probe that documented misconduct and mismanagement by high ranking officials of the Tulane University Police Department (TUPD). MCC staff met and provided assistance to the attorneys from Chaffe McCall and Tulane University in their investigation of issues within the TUPD. As a result of their investigation, Chief Joseph Bishop and Deputy Chief Shan Kirk both resigned and Captain Angela Davis was terminated.
GUILTY PLEA OF FORMER LSP TROOPER FOR MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE
After receiving a complaint, the MCC began an investigation, which included obtaining the 2015 Louisiana State Police (LSP) Internal Affairs investigative report documenting Trooper Roger’s criminal conduct. Former LSP Superintendent Mike Edmonson elected not to pursue criminal charges after Rogers resigned while under investigation. However, the MCC brought this case to the attention of the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s Office. Rogers was initially arrested in April 2018 along with three other current or former Louisiana State Police troopers on charges pertaining to off-duty details they worked issuing highway safety traffic citations. In July of 2018, Rogers pleaded guilty to two counts of malfeasance in office and was sentenced to 3 years probation along with paying restitution.