Audio By Carbonatix
Grammy-award-winning star Buju Banton has been sentenced to 10 years in jail in the US for his role in setting up a cocaine deal in 2009.
The singer, whose real name is Mark Myrie, was told at Tampa federal court that he must serve five years' probation following prison.
Previously the Dancehall artist had insisted in court that he had been merely boasting about the deal.
Prosecutors conceded he had never put money into a deal or profitted from it.
His record Before the Dawn won best reggae album at the Grammy Awards ceremony earlier this year.
In February the star was convicted of conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute it, along with a further drug trafficking offence and a gun charge.
He was acquitted of a fourth charge for attempted cocaine possession
It was Banton's second trial - his first ended in September when the jury was unable to reach a verdict.
Much of the case hinged on video and audio recordings taken by an informant and by Drug Enforcement Administration personnel.
The informant was paid $50,000 (£31,000) after Banton's arrest in December 2009, along with two others.
One video shown to the jury showed Banton apparently tasting cocaine in a Florida warehouse.
A co-defendant later gave the informant $135,000 (£83,705). He and another man pleaded guilty to drug charges in the case.
Source: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
AFCON 2025: Senegal beat Morocco to win second title
3 hours -
Sports journalist Alex Kobina Stonne elected UniMAC External Affairs Commissioner
4 hours -
NDC’s economic gains ‘cosmetic’; real impact yet to be felt – Bryan Acheampong
4 hours -
WEF warns geoeconomic confrontation now world’s biggest threat
4 hours -
Top 10 safest countries in Africa for travellers in 2026: Ghana places 7th
5 hours -
Inflation to remain within lower bound of medium-term target of 8 ± 2% – BoG
5 hours -
Bright Simons: Ghana’s budget should follow gold, not oil
6 hours -
Stress test on restructured government bonds: Banks appear resilient to shocks – BoG
6 hours -
T-bills auction: Investor interest continued to surge, but interest rates soar
6 hours -
2025/26 Ghana League: Holy Stars edge Bechem United to secure vital home victory
7 hours -
Gun amnesty programme extended by two weeks
7 hours -
Tano North farmers threaten demonstration against Newmont ‘unfair compensation’
8 hours -
GPL 2025/26: Richmond Opoku brace sees Young Apostles draw with Hohoe United
8 hours -
Over 75% of NPP Parliamentary candidates outpolled Bawumia in 2024 – Bryan Acheampong
8 hours -
Kyebi Zongo to become a model for excellence, environmental stewardship – Chief of Kyebi Zongo
8 hours
