Grammy Award winner Buju Banton files papers asking for shorter sentence

Jamaican reggae artiste, Buju Banton, has file court papers in Florida, asking for a shorter prison sentence in that jurisdiction.

The Grammy Award winner artiste was convicted in February of conspiring to set up a cocaine deal in Florida in 2009.

He faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison.

But in court documents filed on Thursday, Buju’s lawyer, David Markus, contends that a 15-year-sentence is much more than necessary in the singer’s case.

He contends that Buju’s limited participation in the drug transaction, his charitable work in Jamaica and his otherwise clean record entitles him to a reduced sentence.

The documents include letters of support for Buju from actor Danny Glover, reggae singer Stephen Marley and Atlanta Hawks basketball player Etan Thomas.

Buju is also seeking an acquittal and a new trial.

His sentencing hearing is set for June 23 in Tampa federal court.

1 Comment

Leave a Reply