BONDAGE! - Buju faces 15 to life after guilty verdict

Reggae star tells tearful fans ‘Keep loving God’

BY PAUL HENRY Crime Crime/Court co-ordinator henryp@jamaicaobserver.com

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

TAMPA, USA — Reggae superstar Buju Banton walked unshackled into the Sam M Gibbons Federal Court yesterday morning but by late afternoon he was led out in handcuffs after a jury, deliberating for a second day, returned guilty verdicts on three of four charges against the Jamaican Grammy-winning artiste.

The verdict, which came at around 2:22 pm, left Banton's overly optimistic supporters in shock, and had them streaming out of the courtroom in tears. The more than two dozen supporters afterward expressed anger and disbelief at the decision which came little over an hour after the lunch break.

Banton stood emotionless as the verdict was being read. Afterwards, he hugged the members of his legal team.

"We love you," Banton's manager Traci McGregor shouted in court immediately after the verdict was read. The artiste similarly responded and told his supporters "Thank you."

The artiste was found guilty of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilogrammes of cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offence, and using the wires to facilitate a drug-trafficking offence.

However, he was found not guilty of attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine.

Shortly after, Banton — whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie — met his legal team of David Oscar Markus, Marc David Seitles and Margot Moss. Markus emerged an hour later telling reporters that the conviction would be appealed.

An emotional Markus read a statement prepared by Banton after the guilty verdict.

"Our life and our destiny are sometimes pre-destined and no matter where this journey takes me, remember I fought the good fight," said the statement. "It was a great man that said 'my head is bloody but still unbowed'. I love you all. Thank you for your support. Keep loving God."

Banton is to be sentenced in another three months and faces 15 years to life behind bars, Markus said. The lawyer is expected to apply to have Banton's US$250,000 bail restored during the period leading up to the sentence.

The artiste had been on trial since Monday, February 14. The 12 jurors, three of whom were African-Americans, started deliberating last Friday morning.

Banton's first trial ended in September last year with the jurors being unable to reach a unanimous verdict, setting up the second trial.

He was arrested on December 10, 2009, hours after two men — Ian Thomas and James Mack — were busted in an undercover warehouse where they had gone to purchase cocaine. US$135,000 was seized and the gun for which Banton was charged was found in Mack's car. Both men had pleaded guilty and are yet to be sentenced.

The operation was set in train in July 2009 as a result of Banton's bragging to US government informant Alexander Johnson that he was a financier of drugs and sought his assistance in expanding his venture.

The prosecution has contended that Banton was instrumental in brokering the deal, which resulted in the arrest. But Banton said that he was not part of the deal, even though he introduced Thomas to Johnson.

Banton said he was merely talking when he spoke with Johnson about making drug deals and that it was Thomas who brokered the deal. The artiste said he backed away from Johnson after December 8, 2009 when Johnson showed him cocaine in a warehouse. Banton was captured on video tasting the drug.

Minutes after eight o'clock yesterday morning, a relaxed Banton made the short stroll from his hotel to the court surrounded by his attorneys, security detail and supporters. Moments before the jurors resumed deliberations yesterday morning, supporters sent up fervent and lengthy prayers for the artiste's freedom in the hallway of the court.

Despite the verdict, supporters still hold out faith that God will free Banton on appeal.

"Last thing me and DJ spoke about was going home," add a tearful Wayne Wonder, with whom Banton made numerous hit songs in the 1990s. "He was the one who told us to stay strong. It's not over yet."

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COMMENTS (33)

Yard Vibz
2/23/2011

The rationale behind Myrie being allowed to testify has eluded me. Such decision certainly cannot be viewed as advantageous to him, & it appears to have done more harm than good.... I mean, the prosecutor, who is about 30 yrs older than Markus, & much more experienced, provoked Myrie to anger. According to some reports, Myrie, who was not properly coached, had displayed deficiencies in the areas of tolerance & posture. And then he kept repeating the over-rehearsed line, "talking crap". Naivety?

Adam Godson
2/23/2011

@tickytickyfish, people like faithless gun toting pastors, so-called conscious rascalfarian singers who talk about gad,yet seek to traffic cocaine,televangelists accused of carnal abuse are the true mackers of gad. They WILL reap what they sow.
The fool has also said in his heart,there is a gad,but his beliefs are not reflected in his behaviour.
Continue to watch me,while your business is spoiling.
Be very careful,for you and I might very well spend an eternity in the same place.

Adam Godson
2/23/2011

@jaye stone. I hear you,but because you have to have been working to go on vacation,or pre-retirement leave,then I doubt gad is on either. since he/she/it doesn't appear to do anything. And yes,tickytickyfish,I said 'gad'. That is how we say it in jamaica.
@Jay Popsy, yours is perhaps the best comment(comment #7) I have read since the start of the year,on any topic,but a lot of people will not be able to appreciate it.I hope people look closely at the 2 last questions you asked.

jenn longmore
2/23/2011

Happy moments, praise God.
Difficult moments, seek God.
Quiet moments, worship God
Painful moments, trust God.
Every moment, thank God.
....with every moment I thank God that he has rid os of this vilest of person. ...Guilty as charged..lock him up and throw away the key. 15 years will not be enough !

St. Ann
2/23/2011

People stop being naive Buju was not a saint. Thomas was Buju's right hand man they been friends for a very long time Thomas is a known drug dealer. Whats wrong you all? Buju won't be the first J'can to be convicted for drugs and he won't the last.

Adam Godson
2/23/2011

My favourite buja bantun album is Rascal got soul.

tickyticky fish
2/23/2011

@ Adam Godson, Jaye Stone and all others who are mocking God. Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.

Mr Lawman
2/23/2011

Look at the FACTS/EVIDENCE IN THE CASE; IT SPEAKS VOLUMES AS TO BUJU'S COMPLICITY. If Buju never had the intent he would not be a convicted drug felon today. As a society we need to step up and be accountable for our actions. I am not surprised by all the Buju's sympathizers on here who are willing to excuse bad behavior which is typical in Jamaican society these days. Just look at the state of Jamaica, crime and corruption in government and we Jamaican refuse to do take a stand.

Adam Godson
2/23/2011

@tickytickyfish,it isn't I who introduced god into this. It is your fellow god fans who were praying for beju.It is your fellow god fans that you must ask if they don't want to see justice being done to drug traffickers. It is your fellow god praisers you must tell to leave gad out of this.
Now I may be a fool, but at least I am not seeking to sell cocaine. Boomju isn't mocking god,but it is he who sought to traffic drugs.Ironic isn't it?Especially when 1 reason was to feed his yute them.

John Brown
2/23/2011

Sad to say entrapment is use by law enforcement over here to trap people, which to me is a wicked act. My qualms is that the DEA had Buju under surveillance for a year & came up empty, then they decided to entrap him. Mi waan fi know how a man feel fi reel in an innocent man in a web of lies & deceit. Anyway, Buju is just guilty of being a fool to fall into their trap.
My brother & I was even mentioning from the first instant that him better off taking a plea deal (2 years) than fighting it.

Anthony II
2/23/2011

Maude, in response to your question as to whether anyone will learn from this, my response is fat chance! We have a culture where people have been conditioned to believe that they are not responsible for their actions; that someone else is always at fault for what happens to us (hence the religiosity and the ascension of a "Satan" to a position of power; "Da Satan deh sah! A Satan mek mi dweet"). Plus, we also have been taught that our actions have no consequences.

Anthony II
2/23/2011

Much as I did not and never will support his boom bye-bye lyrics, I feel some amount of conflict over this; I am not sure why. However, this is an opportune time for those who have grown up in a culture that teaches us that there are no consequences for our actions to learn that, in fact, there are consequences for our actions. We need to take responsibility for our actions. The sad thing is that some of us seem incapable of learning that lesson. And that is the pity in all of this.

tickyticky fish
2/23/2011

@ Adam Godson and Jaye Stone only fools mock God
If a person got mixed up in blood diamonds and cocaine which is a very bad combination wouldn't you want to see justice done do you know how many misery, blood, tears and deaths blood diamonds and cocaine cause so just leave God out of this

owen lloyd
2/23/2011

Yep, God will intervene and set him set free. Buju getting at least 10 years behind bars. Him can work pon him next CD in a prison.

Adam Godson
2/23/2011

Those who claim that gays set bup boojaa, how come they are not setting up capleton,who bun more fyah than boojii?
Is it because Capleton is not seeking to traffic cocaine,like bujoo was found guilty of seeking to do?
Buujuu boast to stranger how he deals drugs ,one reason being he has many yute to feed. He went,off his own free will,to a warehouse to test/taste cocaine, and his disciples are still convinced he was set up?
We have just been promoted to 2nd happiest country in the world.

Adam Godson
2/23/2011

@george watson, that mayor you claim was 'inveigled' to take drugs 'against his will'.
My opinion is,if an adult is so stupid as to be 'inveigled' into taking drugs 'against his will' then that person is stupid, and deserves whatever he gets.
That type of stupidity should be illegal.
And making excuses and not accepting responsibility for one's actions,and blaming others should be illegal as well. Boojoo got what he deserves.
Where is the sympathy for President Coke?

Adam Godson
2/23/2011

@george watson,
Buju was set up? Did someone open his mouth and speak for him when he boasted to the man on the plane that he was a drug dealer?
Did someone set up boojoo when he went to the warehouse himself to test/taste cocaine?
Is boojoo so weak that someone could control him and make him do these things or did he make the decision himself?
Boojoo set himself up.
Nobody had to set him up.
The word NO is powerful.Boojoo should have used it.

Nicolas Henry
2/23/2011

To all supporters of the secret MOU. Did you ever think that Buju's phone was bugged using that argreement. If that's so, would you still agree with the MOU? HA HA HA, HA. The Gays set up BUJU, just like Peter Phillips set up Bruce. HA HA HA HA. Buju's fame & poupularity should draw attention to all would be traffickers in JA, to not start drug trafficking and work hard for money. Buju taste Coke, he was a willing participant. Call a spade a spade. Get mix up u get what u deserve.

Chuck Emanuel
2/23/2011

Some Societies are Governed by Rules of Order, and some are not. Wherever the Rule of Law exists, people will be held Accountable for their actions.

Jay Popsy
2/23/2011

By and large the comments here reflect what's wrong with my country....from the politicians to the common man...NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ACTIONS.....could this have happened if he had walked away?
Why do we continue to blame other people for our actions...sure there are elements who wanted to see him fall.....but he made a bad choice......would all of us if presented with the same choices make the same decision....if the answer is no then what's the problem here?

kgn 13 yute
2/23/2011

For all you in jamaica who are following these fools about boom bye bye, fag fi dead. When these guys visit the US, they sit on the plane besides gays, do business with gays, sign record deals with gays. They will never try to beat or diss a gay. They only do that in their house which is called jamaica. In other words they secretly hug up gays. As a contractor I've done work for homos and lezs. They pay in US $ just as anyone else. I have no problem with God's gift to man.. which is FREE WILL

Maude Cooper
2/23/2011

Will most of his fans use this experience as learning one, especially so-called entertainers, black, white, yellow or green? Sadly, it will not be long before this same thing happen to someone else, because so many still seem unable to grasp the core of this matter, blinded by folly…Even Buju himself stated at one time that he was ashamed, how many ask themselves why did he said that. People are not usually ashamed of doing the right thing. I hope he will come out of this a cleaner, mature grounded person for the sake of his children and the youths who look up to him.

kgn 13 yute
2/23/2011

I've said before the trial started & the observer refuse to post. One can only be set up if one has criminal intentions to begin with..If he was framed, then it would be something else. What if he is a drug dealer or a financer of the deals. Thomas his best friend was there with the money for the purchase, he wasnt on the plane, Buju was. This space could be used to name a few jamaicans who got deported due to association with Thomas, but we will leave that alone. Not surprised by the verdict.

Jaye Stone
2/23/2011

@Adam Godson: Not just prayer, but fasting too! Perhaps they didn't pray loudly enough, or fast long enough? Or perhaps God is on vacation, or pre-retirement leave?

stanley buffett
2/23/2011

adam it`s a emotional thing that`s the first thing come out of anyone mouth lets pray,god is so busy doing other things like creating more planets more people he dont have time to listen to prayers for buju, look what is going on in jamaica the type of crime murder rape hunger poverty and most of the time these are ambitious people been victimize no one praying for them,god will listen to those prayers

stanley buffett
2/23/2011

I think people should leave god out of this what god got to do with this,buju seem to have more faith than the people out there, people already know how much time he will get how do they know that,it could come down to time serve community service and a fine, I wonder blacks were on that jury remember people he is not lindsy lohan britney spears he is buju a black man it`s the truth,wake up people he cant do anything for the usa they dont need him

Jay Popsy
2/23/2011

There is a lesson to be learned here....as far as I know the video didn't show Buju being forced with a gun to his head nor has it come out that his family and/or loved ones were threatened.
HE was the one who made the choice...and HE is the one who has to deal with the consequences of HIS actions..no one else.
Too many Jamaicans believe in freedom of choice without paying attention to the attendant consequences...make bad choices then you deal with the consequences

N. Byrd
2/23/2011

Well this is how it is here in the US THEY WILL TRY YOU TILL THEy FIND A WAY TO LOCK YOU AWAY.... Buju is just getting payback from certain elements.... Long time they want to see him fall . .. Notice how silent they are since this whole case started??

Ella Johns
2/23/2011

Wow for a small country it is quite obvious how much they fear us that you can give a man 15 years for supposedly taking cocaine when in USA and other countries there are pedophiles and murders walking free every day. The gay rights movement must be happy but today fi yuh, tomorrow fi wi.

Island Boi
2/23/2011

J-Flag must be happy they finally got what they wanted. SMH.

george watson
2/23/2011

To me it was not so much a matter of whether Buju was guilty or not but that he was set up so cruelly by his enemies who have such a strong lobby and wide networking throughout the world, even here in Jamaica.
It reminds me of the entrapment of a former mayor of Washington (I think it was) who was shown on tape being inveigled by a female companion to take drugs much against his will. When he finally succumbed the apartment was swarmed by agents.
The USA should stop this sort of thing; but since they are so powerful there is nothing we can do but adhere to their laws or keep as far away from them as possible.

Jay Brown
2/23/2011

Words are not just wind, they can get you in serious trouble.

Adam Godson
2/23/2011

Guilty?
I am now convinced beyond a doubt that prayer works.
And since prayer really works ,you all should now pray that he gets the minimum sentence.
Bunch of jokers.

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BONDAGE! - Buju faces 15 to life after guilty verdict