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UPDATE: Buju gets 10 years
BY KARYL WALKER Online news editor walkerk@jamaicaobserver.com
Thursday, June 23, 2011
REGGAE artiste Buju Banton was today sentenced to 10 years by United States magistrate Jim Moody in the Sam M Gibbons US Court in Tampa Florida. He will be incarcerated at the FCI prison facility in Miami.
The artiste – real name Mark Myrie – was found guilty in February of conspiring to negotiate a drug deal in a police controlled warehouse in Florida.
The charge of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug offense was dropped however.
The artiste was slapped with the heavy sentence despite pleas for leniency by his attorney, his children, movie star Danny Glover and other character witnesses.
Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, seemed resigned to accept his fate and calmy accepted the verdict.
His attorney David Oscar Markus has signalled his intent to appeal Banton's guilty verdict and indicated that he would move with alacrity to secure the artiste's release.
The sentence was handed down in front of a packed courthouse which included members of the artiste's family, his close friend Wayne Wonder, his manager Traci McGregor and reporters.
Many persons, including artistes and Banton's close friends Gramps Morgan and Delly Ranks who came to hear the verdict were turned back after court officials indicated that the courtroom was packed and Moody had already been seated at minutes to 9:00 am.
The sentencing hearing lasted just over an hour and many of Myrie's supporters and family members cried openly.
The artiste will serve his time at the penal facility in the state of Florida.
Myrie underwent two trials after the first trial ended in a mistrial in 2010. He was however found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilogrammes of cocaine, using the wires to facilitate a drug offense and possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offence.
Banton's two co-conspirators, Ian Thomas and James Mack both plead guilty after they were held in a sting operation attempting to purchase cocaine from federal agents in a police controlled warehouse in Tampa.
The US government built their case around wiretap and video evidence which caught Banton tasting cocaine and making several statements of the purchasee and sale of large amounts of contraband.
 
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6/23/2011
Appeal comming.The lawyer took the retrial light----My opinion.... All who bashing the judge please stop, he could have easily say 15 or more. Check the dictionary for 'MANDATORY' .The judge knew the case was weak but he had to follow guide lines.Make a decision on what is presented to him.Check the time given to the other man. Buju is and will always be next to bob in my book.
6/23/2011
I strongly believe that he will be a better person when he gets out still under 50 year old. My brother all you need to do is be strong in the Lord. Use your pass time to write hits songs. You SHALL overcome. Maybe it's God's way of saving you from your death. God didn't say that you wouldn't have troubles, but he promises that he will be with you, deliver you and honour you. Maybe this is the process to your perfecction. Stay strong in the Lord. U will be OK.
6/23/2011
Bwoy if hot but hush, sorry for his multitude of kids, really wish u had taken the plea deal, you would have saved so much money for your kids and be out in a few months.... meditate on you life my brother, write some songs to release wen you out..,. see you in 4 to 6 with good behavior...you will still be youngish and still a legend.. and thank god the judge found a way to add some mercy by dropping the gun charge, madatory means just that.
the lesson to all is behave wen you go people country
6/23/2011
Buju is your typical Jamaican who put all their faith in the purity of Europeans-white informant, white lawyers and white instigators. Like a sheep, he was led to the slaughter. Clearly he grows locks and sings about Africa, but he doesn’t understand about men who built empires. He was bamboozled, but I hope he will learn from his folly. Like the African slave trade, they funded and provided all the equipment and travelled to capture their target, knowing fully well, that the naïve amongst us will continue to praise the criminals for their continued targeting of blacks.
6/23/2011
Buju nothing that dont cost life dont cost nothing....me bredda stay strong everyday above surface is a good day...this too shall pass.
6/23/2011
He was a bloody fool not to take the two year deal that was offered. The feds are always hard if you opt for a full trial (and lose).
6/23/2011
@ Stan Smith, that man was NEVER Buju's attorney and if he had plead guilty he could not appeal so chill. Black brother my foot! I think Buju did the right thing. Somehow I am happy at the out come consider that 15 yearsis minimum by law, he gets only 10. Something inna something. Higher Courts (appeals) go by law not by hateful jury and racist grudge. He will prevail for the crap put before the Court cannot sustain a conviction.
This report sucks! What did the judge say in sentencing?
6/23/2011
I like the Banton and I'm sorry for him. But he's not the only idiot that I like.
6/23/2011
Be careful how u play that Rasta game,,, Looking like and behaving like... Careful of the thing that u detest in life. Never go to the place u curse and dont keep up ur shields. Words can bite back... stay strong in ur faith. Jack
6/23/2011
Well, he will have to be credited for time served so I expected he'll be out in 4 yrs, if he does not appeal. An appeal is costly and most time they don't work. The upside is, most artists seem to do their best work behind bars. Let see what this turns out .
6/23/2011
US Magistrate was very lenient in handing down a sentence of 10 years Jamaicans stop referring to the Bible which from inception portrays divisiveness, bigotry and hate. Your deity has nothing to do with the US Laws. The Bible was written by and for Caucasian which promotes white Supremacy and anything white is beautiful The convict was spared by the Judge who ruled outside of mandatory sentencing. Ruling has nothing to do with Buju's kids. Leave our Pres out of your stupid idea of pardon .
6/23/2011
@Stan smith i was thinking the same thing....he already been there a yr what is two more! Oh well better to do 10 yrs in a US prison than 10 months in a Jamaican one.....He can get a degree, produce focused hits and do some soul searching.....good luck bro God go with you!
6/23/2011
Mandela got 27, hold the faith Banton as usual, the universe is on the side of justice that comes from God not mankind.
6/23/2011
I am so upset with Buju I cannot cry he had no business getting mix up with those die hard drug dealers. The sentence could have been worse. Ten years is a long time I do believe he will come out stronger. I am hoping he doesn't loose his assets that he sang so hard for.To his family I say stay strong Buju is still alive.
6/23/2011
I hope they count the time that he served up to the trial as part of this sentence, if that’s the case he has served almost 2 years already. I believe that God works in ways that we will never understand however I’m hopeful that Buju will be out for the 2020 world cup. Barack Obama is in office for almost 4 years and I don’t see where the time went. This too shall pass.
6/23/2011
I guess we'll have some sort of birth control for the next 10yrs. The man is 37yrs old & fathered 15kids with God's know how many women. By the way, how will he serve the 5yrs probation, won't they deport him upon his release from prison.
6/23/2011
If nothing else is a travesty this case is one, for here you have one brother going to prison for 10 yrs while some guy is laughing all the way to the bank. Simply amazing. Any how Buju, still give thanks to the father, for where there is life there is hope. Your lawyer may just pull off a miracle. Jah guide.
6/23/2011
Looking back, he should have listened to his first attorney, a Black BROTHER and professor , who had advised him to take the 2 year plea deal. Paid millions to Mr. Hotshot and got ten years.
6/23/2011
Buju conviction may seems like an injustice to many people, especially J'cans, but I really believe in the long term it will do more good than bad; for the J'can society and especially the youth.
The J'can society have glorified criminality, corruption and violence for too long, and we just cant tolerate it any more, it is not productive.
We must set examples and be better role models for the younger generation. People must be held accountable for their actions. For a better JAMAICA.
6/23/2011
My family will pray for you my Brother. keep the faith,IT IS SUCH A SAD DAY FOR OUR BROTHER ******* TEARS FOR YOU. 10 GOES BY KINDA FAST SO NUH WORRY YOU SELF THE Jim Moody judge was not for you all along.
6/23/2011
What can I say? How does Buju, a successful entertainer justify talking so much about drugs and tasting sample drugs if he is an entertainer. I would think that Buju would talk to a stranger on a plane about music and not drugs.Still a mystery to me....................
6/23/2011
To Karyl Walker......Tell Buju me and my 5 year old Grace will always keep him in our prayers and close to our hearts xx love sista k and Grace..........tell him to stay strong he is a pure and innocent man x nuff love
6/23/2011
can't speak, this is wrong all wrong........Evil will not win....Buju i keep u close to my heart and in my prayers xx pray for an appeal xx you stay strong x Love to u always sista k
6/23/2011
This was unfair this sentence was far too harsh the judge used him as an exemple
6/23/2011
What's done is done. It is a shock to the system, but Buju must find a way to go forward. Ten years is a long time, but not forever. After the shock wears off, I encourage him to find creative ways to use the time in incarceration. He is a creative individual, and even in jail, he shouldn't waste time.
Everything is only for a time. Look forward, not behind.
6/23/2011
Buju Boy, is not an easy road.
6/23/2011
Can the lawyers ask Obama for a pardon?
6/23/2011
Still too much but he will be okay.
6/23/2011
What a shame mon! poor Buju. caah mek mistake in foreign sah!
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