Grammy award-winning reggae singer Buju Banton was sentenced on Thursday to 10 years in a US federal prison for his conviction on a cocaine conspiracy charge.
The Jamaican singer, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was convicted in February by a jury in Tampa, Florida, on charges of conspiring with two other men to possess at least 5kg of cocaine.
Myrie (37) argued unsuccessfully that he was entrapped by a government informant.
He won the Grammy for the best Reggae album of 2010, Before the Dawn, on February 13, the day before his trial began.
At the sentencing hearing, US District Judge James Moody said the 10-year sentence was the minimum he could give under federal guidelines. He said the maximum was 151 months.
“This is a sad day for Myrie. This is a sad day for Jamaica,” said defence lawyer David Markus.
“He’s a good man who has done great things in his life.”
But federal prosecutor James Preston said Myrie was instrumental to what took place and lied in court about his role in the drug deal.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
Myrie did not make a statement. He smiled as he was led away.
Markus asked that Myrie be allowed to serve his sentence as close to Miami as possible so he could be near his family.
He was living there when he was arrested in December 2009.
