The case of a US man stuck in Bermuda awaiting trial has led to a campaign in New Orleans to free the popular band leader.

Thaddeus “Peanut” Ramsey has spent 11 months on the island, with three more months to go before his trial date in Magistrates’ Court along with another man from the city.

Both are accused of conspiracy to commit a money-laundering offence.

According to The Lens in New Orleans, Congressman Troy Carter is “trying to reach out to Bermuda officials” in an effort to get Mr Ramsey home — while his band, Big 6, are raising funds for a lawyer to clear his name.

The Royal Gazette understands that a homeless charity on the island is helping Mr Ramsey, who has no residence and cannot raise funds.

An online fundraiser states that Mark Pettingill has been taken on to plead his case.

Efforts to reach Mr Ramsey this week were unsuccessful, and Mr Pettingill said he had not yet spoken with him.

Mr Ramsey was said to be keen to bring his band to Bermuda in time for Cup Match, and travelled to the island last April to look at opportunities to perform.

The public holiday was said to be in keeping with Mardi Gras celebrations, where his band tend to perform.

The New Orleans press reported that he heard “the Bermuda venues he sought would likely only hold sought-after dates during the Cup Match if paid in cash” — leading him to travel with “a few thousand in cash from recent gigs” along with $8,000 from his own bank account.

Mr Ramsey told the home newspaper: “Everybody knows that bands want to get out of New Orleans and travel, and you have to have your own money to back you up.”

He is said to have flown to the island on April 20, only to book a ticket home eight days later to attend the funeral of a musician friend.

However, customs agents at LF Wade International Airport were suspicious and searched him, finding $10,445 on the musician.

Mr Ramsey was reportedly unaware that it was an offence to leave the island with more than $10,000.

The Lens said local officials interviewed Mr Ramsey and launched an investigation, confiscating his money along with his passport.

Initially, Mr Ramsey was said to be only under investigation, and the article stated he “still doesn’t know what he’s being charged with — if anything”.

The article makes no mention of a co-defendant.

However, Magistrates’ Court told the The RoyalGazette this week that Mr Ramsey had been charged last year along with Merrill Boyd.

Charges were formally laid before the court on September 19 last year, when both men pleaded not guilty and consented to summary trial.

The court said their trial is scheduled for June 18 and 19.

Throughout the proceedings, the defendants have been represented by counsel, the court said. They are on bail with conditions that require them to remain in Bermuda pending trial.

The court added that both men have sought permission to depart Bermuda and return for trial.

The move was opposed by the prosecution and turned down by the court.

“Following a recent hearing, held to confirm the defendants’ address in Bermuda, written confirmation has been supplied by the person who is acting as their surety that they have and will continue to be provided with lodging until the matter is resolved,” the court said.

Meanwhile, the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans has declared Mr Ramsey “an integral part of New Orleans’ cultural community” and has launched a fundraiser under the rubric “Bring Peanut Home”.

The fundraiser, which had raised nearly $3,800 by yesterday, adds: “We have secured the services of one of Bermuda’s top criminal lawyers, Mark Pettingill, to take on the case.”

The appeal says: “We are calling on all supporters of New Orleans music to pitch in to bring Peanut home.”

Mr Ramsey, 29, reportedly hails from a line of storied New Orleans artists.

The city is known for music, and the Big 6 are described online as a popular brass band.

Meanwhile, Mr Ramsey is said to be “staying in churches”, with family and friends chipping in to cover living expenses.

A separate GoFundMe page for Mr Boyd describes the co-defendant as unjustly accused and trapped in “legal limbo”.

“For nearly a year now, they've endured unimaginable hardships, surviving on charity in a foreign land where every meal and shower is a luxury,” the page says.

• It is The Royal Gazette’s policy not to allow comments on stories regarding criminal court cases. This is to prevent any statements being published that may jeopardise the outcome of that case.