Buju Banton could be released in six years for good behavior

Jamaican Reggae artiste Buju Banton, who was sentenced to ten years in a federal prison yesterday morning, could be released after six years for good behavior.

Bujus attorney, David Markus suggested that Buju could be out earlier than the required ten years he must serve given that he would be credited with the 18 months he spent in the Pinellas County Jail in Tampa, Florida prior to & following his drug trial. Speaking to reporters following Bujus sentence, Markus said, He will get credit for all the time he was in, plus good time credit. So hes got six years remaining on his sentence. Six years is too much time, but its much better than the 15 years he was looking at going in this morning.

Buju was convicted in February of conspiring to organize a drug deal along with two other charges but had a gun-related charge dropped. The Grammy winning Reggae artiste appeared in the Florida court in a prison outfit; bound by shackles at his feet. After the presiding judge, James Moody heard Markus plea for a lighter sentence for Buju, Moody insisted he had no choice but to hand down the mandatory ten year sentence given that Bujus involvement in the alleged drug deal was vital, despite limited participation & that he was expected to profit from said deal.

Markus is now moving swiftly to ensure an early release for Buju; having the artists case be appealed in Georgia. If successful, then Buju could be let go within the next years on good behavior. Three judges will hear our case on the 10-year drug count that is left and we will be arguing that the evidence was insufficient on the drug count and that there was entrapment as a matter of law because of that scoundrel Alex Johnson. Mark Myrie is my brother, and I am going to keep fighting until they tell me to stop fighting, Markus intimated.

Meanwhile, Buju, who seemed resigned to his fate once the sentence was handed down, offered a message of hope for his children & family who were understandably stunned by the sentence. To my family, especially my children, remember our little song, Love the Lord and do no evil. The man is not dead, dont call him a ghost, Bujus message stated.

Once Buju has served his time, he will be deported back to Jamaica.

By Jodee Brown
Jamaican Pop Culture Examiner