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Buju Banton's label breaks silence 
Buju was indicted five days after his arrest. The federal indictment claims that he, along with Ian Thomas and James Jackson Mack, "knowingly and willing fully conspired with each other and with others to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a substance containing a delectable amount of cocaine".(Photo: reggaeblog.com) NEW YORK, United States, December 21, 2009 - The President of Buju Banton's record label, Tracii McGregor, is urging that people not to rush to judgment on the guilt of the reggae star who is now facing drug charges in the United States.
In an exclusive interview with CaribWorldNews, the head of Buju's Gargamel Music Inc insisted the singer, born Mark Anthony Myrie, is "innocent" and that the label will pursue the best legal team to prove that.
She said she has been meeting with several leading attorneys to take over the case. They include top criminal defence attorneys David Oscar Markus, who was named a 2009 Florida Super Lawyer for White Collar Criminal Defense Representation and was listed in the 2009 Chambers & Partners for White Collar Crime & Government Investigations; and Frank Rubino, who has tried hundreds of cases involving serious federal and international criminal offences including the case against Panamanian General, Manuel Noriega.
McGregor said the current attorney, Herbert Walker, was simply hired to represent Buju during his initial court appearance and the label has made no decision about who the trial attorney will be.
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She said the focus now is on staging the best legal defense and rallying the fans to stand by the reggae singer, whose songs like 'Our Father In Zion', 'Hills and Valleys', 'Give I Strength' and 'Cry No More' have made him an household name among fans of conscious reggae.
"This is Buju and we're going to get him the top legal representation there is. We are ready to fight," she said.
As for Buju, McGregor said the singer is "holding firm" even though it is a difficult situation he has found himself in.
She said she had told the singer to "go inward and preserve yourself".
McGregor added that Buju has also focused on helping other inmates, especially Jamaicans at the Miami federal prison where he was being held, who have no legal representation.
A clearly emotional McGregor revealed that she was in New York last Thursday afternoon, when she got the shocking call about Banton`s arrest on December 10th.
"I was stunned," said McGregor, who had been in Florida for the past few weeks preparing for the move of the label officially to the Sunshine State.
Buju was indicted five days after his arrest. The federal indictment claims that he, along with Ian Thomas and James Jackson Mack, "knowingly and willing fully conspired with each other and with others to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a substance containing a delectable amount of cocaine".
If convicted, Buju faces 20 to life while all property deemed to have been gained from drug distribution could be forfeited. (Adapted from Caribworldnews)
Buju was indicted five days after his arrest. The federal indictment claims that he, along with Ian Thomas and James Jackson Mack, "knowingly and willing fully conspired with each other and with others to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a substance containing a delectable amount of cocaine".(Photo: reggaeblog.com) NEW YORK, United States, December 21, 2009 - The President of Buju Banton's record label, Tracii McGregor, is urging that people not to rush to judgment on the guilt of the reggae star who is now facing drug charges in the United States.In an exclusive interview with CaribWorldNews, the head of Buju's Gargamel Music Inc insisted the singer, born Mark Anthony Myrie, is "innocent" and that the label will pursue the best legal team to prove that.
She said she has been meeting with several leading attorneys to take over the case. They include top criminal defence attorneys David Oscar Markus, who was named a 2009 Florida Super Lawyer for White Collar Criminal Defense Representation and was listed in the 2009 Chambers & Partners for White Collar Crime & Government Investigations; and Frank Rubino, who has tried hundreds of cases involving serious federal and international criminal offences including the case against Panamanian General, Manuel Noriega.
McGregor said the current attorney, Herbert Walker, was simply hired to represent Buju during his initial court appearance and the label has made no decision about who the trial attorney will be.
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"This is Buju and we're going to get him the top legal representation there is. We are ready to fight," she said.
As for Buju, McGregor said the singer is "holding firm" even though it is a difficult situation he has found himself in.
She said she had told the singer to "go inward and preserve yourself".
McGregor added that Buju has also focused on helping other inmates, especially Jamaicans at the Miami federal prison where he was being held, who have no legal representation.
A clearly emotional McGregor revealed that she was in New York last Thursday afternoon, when she got the shocking call about Banton`s arrest on December 10th.
"I was stunned," said McGregor, who had been in Florida for the past few weeks preparing for the move of the label officially to the Sunshine State.
Buju was indicted five days after his arrest. The federal indictment claims that he, along with Ian Thomas and James Jackson Mack, "knowingly and willing fully conspired with each other and with others to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of a substance containing a delectable amount of cocaine".
If convicted, Buju faces 20 to life while all property deemed to have been gained from drug distribution could be forfeited. (Adapted from Caribworldnews)