The sentencing for Grammy-award winning reggae artist Buju Banton is set for Thursday, according to the Jamaica Observer. Banton will be sentenced in the Sam M. Gibbons Federal Court in Tampa, Florida after he was convicted of drug-related charges four months ago.
Friends and relatives of the artist, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, are concerned about the welfare of the singers 15 children. Several weeks ago well-known actors, athletes, and his children made pleas for leniency when handing down his sentence. American actor Danny Glover and fellow reggae artist Stephan Marley were among the one’s asking for leniency.
Cover of Buju Banton
This conviction comes after a trial in September 2010 when jurors could not reach a verdict. Banton was arrested in December 2009 after a covert drug operation. He was convicted of distributing cocaine five kilos or more, possession of a firearm to be used in the trafficking of drugs, and using the wires to facilitate the drug trafficking offense. The maximum sentence for these convictions is 15 years. His legal team is seeking a lesser sentence. His family and friends are hoping for a sentence less than the mandatory minimum.
His legal team is suggesting that he had limited participation in the drug operation. This coupled with his charitable works and having a clean record entitles him to a lesser sentence than the mandatory minimum of 15 years. There was some concern over the Federal Judge in Florida pushing his June 16 sentencing to June 23, his family thinks that may be a bad sign but can’t be sure.
