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US government informant testifies against Jamaican superstar Buju
A US government informant has testified against Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton on the second day of his drug trial now underway in Florida.
The four-time Grammy nominee is on trial in a federal court in Tampa.
Buju whose real name is Mark Myrie, allegedly tried to buy cocaine from an undercover officer in Sarasota last year.
The Associated Press reports that recordings of phone calls and other conversations between Buju and the informant, Alexander Johnson, were played in court this morning.
Johnson reportedly testified that Buju introduced him to a friend named Ian Thomas who, the singer said, had contacts to sell multiple kilos of cocaine.
Thomas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and faces up to life in prison.
Thomas and another co-defendant James Mack have agreed to testify against Buju.
However, Buju’s attorneys are claiming that the US government informant entrapped their client.
One of his lawyers, David Markus says Buju will be taking the witness stand in his own defence against drug charges in the US.
The trial began yesterday in the US Middle District Court of Florida, Tampa Division, nine months after the singer was arrested.
In court yesterday, prosecutors alleged that Buju was an established drug trafficker before he tried to buy cocaine from an undercover cop in Florida last year.
A US government informant has testified against Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton on the second day of his drug trial now underway in Florida.
The four-time Grammy nominee is on trial in a federal court in Tampa.
Buju whose real name is Mark Myrie, allegedly tried to buy cocaine from an undercover officer in Sarasota last year.
The Associated Press reports that recordings of phone calls and other conversations between Buju and the informant, Alexander Johnson, were played in court this morning.
Johnson reportedly testified that Buju introduced him to a friend named Ian Thomas who, the singer said, had contacts to sell multiple kilos of cocaine.
Thomas pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine and faces up to life in prison.
Thomas and another co-defendant James Mack have agreed to testify against Buju.
However, Buju’s attorneys are claiming that the US government informant entrapped their client.
One of his lawyers, David Markus says Buju will be taking the witness stand in his own defence against drug charges in the US.
The trial began yesterday in the US Middle District Court of Florida, Tampa Division, nine months after the singer was arrested.
In court yesterday, prosecutors alleged that Buju was an established drug trafficker before he tried to buy cocaine from an undercover cop in Florida last year.
Paul Marin -19 is one thing, 20 is a whole other matter. It gets even worse if they win the UCL. *groan*. 
05/18/2011.MU fans naah cough, but all a unuh a vomit?-Lazie 1/11/2015
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