Buju Banton was found guilty of cocaine drug charges in a Tampa, Florida court. It's a somber bit of news as the guilty verdict came on the heels of his Grammy win for Best Reggae Album. For many of his fans in Las Vegas, this is amounts to a set-back in the industry and in life of a one of the most powerful voices in the genre.
After 11 painstaking hours of deliberation, a Florida jury returned a guilty verdict for the artist, whose real name is Mark Myrie.
The guilty verdict was centered on conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five or more kilos of cocaine. Furthermore, he was found guilty of possessing a firearm in the commission of his crimes, and using illegal wires to facilitate the drug trafficking.
When Buju Banton was found guilty of the numerous charges against him, he calmly stood, hugged his attorney, and waved salutations to his supporters. He was poised, almost resigned to meeting his fate head-on. As terrible as his alleged crimes were, what will be remembered about the verdict is how much resolve he showed after having had his moment in the legal system.
The 37-year-old Buju Banton, found guilty of cocaine charges, was whisked off into custody, but his attorney vowed to appeal the verdict within the scope of the law. He and Banton are hoping there will be bail set so that the Reggae sensation has a chance to remain free, and even possibly work before being remanded back into custody.
If all his appeals fail, and there is no technical loop-hole or last minute deal made, Buju Banton will likely serve 15 years in prison after having been found guilty of the felony charges.
Fans in Las Vegas had a chance to see the genius of this modern-day Peter Tosh in Buju Banton back in 2009. Then, he was joined by Gramps Morgan, Angel Shalome and Nikki Burt. It was a concert to remember at the House of Blues venue. The crowd was electric and when his performance was over, many were begging for more. Music indeed is timeless.
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