(Jamaica Gleaner) Jamaica’s reggae superstar Buju Banton, real name Mark Myrie, has been found guilty of three cocaine related charges.
A 12 member jury last evening delivered the verdict in the Sam M Gibbons building in Tampa which houses the United States Middle District Court, Florida Division.
Buju was found guilty on conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of cocaine.
He was found guilty for aiding and abetting others in using a communication facility in the commission of a felony.
He was also found guilty for knowingly and intentionally possessing a firearm in furtherance of and during the course of a drug-trafficking crime.
But he was found not guilty for attempting to possess five kilograms or more of cocaine.
Buju was tried last week on four charges. Buju throughout the trial maintained he was innocent of the charges saying he played no part in any conspiracy to possess cocaine.
In denying the claims against him, Buju, through his attorney David Oscar Markus, argued that the artiste never became a willing participant of the cocaine conspiracy charged in the superseding indictment.
The defence said tasting the cocaine, talking about cocaine and simply being present at the warehouse is not sufficient to find Buju guilty of the crimes charged.
This trial, which began on February 14, was the second attempt of the US government to convict the Jamaican artiste. A first trial last year was declared a mistrial after jurors failed to arrive at a unanimous position.
Buju was arrested on December 10, 2009.
His long-time friend Ian Thomas and a James Mack were arrested the same day when they attempted to buy cocaine from undercover detectives in a Florida warehouse. Thomas and Mack pleaded guilty but Buju denied the charges. He said he decided to fight in federal court because he knows he is innocent.
Banton has meanwhile expressed appreciation to his fans for their support.
“Our life and our destiny are sometimes predestined and no matter where this journey takes me remember I fought the good fight. It was a great man that said my head is bloody but still endowed. I love you all, thank you for your support and continue loving God,” Buju said in a statement read by his attorney David Oscar Markus.
A jury at 2:30 pm yesterday returned a guilty verdict on three of the four cocaine-related charges for which Buju was tried last week.
In a brief statement Markus said, “we are all very sad, disappointed and emotional…”
“The only person who seems to be ok is Buju. We just saw him in the lock-up and he has told us that he was happy that he fought knowing that he is innocent.”
In the meantime lawyers for Buju Banton have indicated that they will be appealing the guilty verdicts.
David Markus, the lead defense attorney, gave oral notice of the appeal after the verdicts were handed down in court.
