Uniondale resident Noel Muir is facing second-degree grand larceny charges after authorities have accused him of stealing nearly $500,000 in prize money from elderly jazz pianist Cecil Taylor.

An investigation is currently on-going, but the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office claims that Muir, 54, had been working as a general contractor on a residence next to that of Taylor.

In June of 2013, the musician was awarded the Kyoto Award from the Inamori Foundation of Japan. The award is Japan’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize and is given to individuals who have contributed greatly to cultural, spiritual, and scientific advancement. Recipients are also flown to Japan so that they are able to accept the honor in person.

Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson described the accusations in a statement. “The defendant befriended Mr. Taylor and won his trust,” said Thompson, “which later made it easier for him to allegedly swindle this vulnerable, elderly and great jazz musician.”

Muir allegedly helped Taylor with all the preparations for the trip and even accompanied him to receive the award. He then arranged for representatives of the Inamori Foundation to transfer the prize money to his own Citibank account. He had falsely claimed that the account was held by the Cecil Taylor Foundation, when in reality, it was Muir’s own account that he uses for his contracting business.

The money was wired into that account as instructed and was promptly cleaned out, according to prosecutors.

Once the transaction took place, a friend of Taylor’s realized what had happened and immediately contacted authorities.

Muir has since turned himself in and is currently awaiting arraignment in Brooklyn Criminal Court. If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. In addition, the District Attorney has filed a civil asset forfeiture action against Muir in Brooklyn Supreme Court in an effort to recover the prize money.