Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Buju Banton Officially Indicted


Reggae artist Mark ‘Buju Banton’ Myrie, has been officially indicted by the US District Court in Tampa, Florida. The indictment filed Wednesday, alleges that Banton as well as co-accused Ian Thomas and James Jackson Mack knowingly and willfully conspired to possess with intent to distribute over five kilograms of cocaine. The document also states that the artiste and the other two men knowingly and intentionally possessed a firearm during the course of committing a drug trafficking crime.

The US government also appears to be going after any assets owned by the men, as the indictment states that the defendants shall forfeit to the US any property obtained as a result of the violations or any property which was used to commit the offences.
Good thing Lorna got her share before all of this started.

In a surprise move, Gargamel decided to waive his bail hearing which was scheduled for Wednesday morning, in a Miami federal court. He decided to fight the drug charge against him in Tampa, where he will be transferred. It is not yet certain why the artiste changed his mind about the bail hearing.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Turnoff issued a temporary order of detention. Attorney representing the reggae star, Herbert Walker had earlier declared he intended to push for Banton's release Wednesday on the grounds that he is not a threat to the community.

Buju has been behind bars in a Florida jail for the past seven days. He was arrested on Thursday during a sting operation involving personnel from the US Drug Enforcement Administration. The artiste and the two men charged along with him face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

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