Jazz Legend Cecil Taylor recently won a cash prize of US$500,000 from the Inamori Foundation. Taylor won the prominent Kyoto Award but he never got the cash prize.

According to reports, a New York man named Noel Muir made friends with Taylor.

Muir was said to be a contractor and he was working on the home of Taylor's neighbor in Brooklyn.

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Muir then won Taylor's trust and reports revealed that Taylor invited Muir to go with him on his trip to Japan.

The trip took place on November of last year and that was when he was given the award along with the cash gift.

Muir was said to have helped in making the preparations for Taylor's money to be transferred into his account.

However, Taylor was said to have been tricked by Muir since Muir transferred the funds to his own bank account.

Officials revealed that instead of putting Taylor's account which was The Cecil Taylor Foundation, Muir used the account named MCAI Construction.

Muir is now being charged with grand larceny. Muir has been arraigned in court today. If proven guilty and if convicted on a second degree count, he will be sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The account where Muir transferred the funds has been depleted after two weeks.

Taylor is 85 years old while Muir is 54 years old.

James Costo, Muir's attorney said in a statement that his client is maintaining his innocence. Muir says that the account which they set up was with Taylor's knowledge and approval.

The police in Brooklyn are doing their best in recovering the money from Muir but there have been no updates yet as of the moment.

Taylor is a renowned pianist and the award he won is given annually in Japan. This is with regards to achievements in science, arts, philosophy and technology.

TagsNoel Muir, Cecil Taylor, Jazz, Legend, Pianist, Kyoto Prize Money, Award, Conned, Theft