Buju Banton court date pushed to September 2010

Buju Banton was scheduled to be in court on June 21st but US District Judge James Moody changed the date to September, and to date the reason is unclear. This is the second time since his December 2009 arrest that his trial date has been changed. The initial trial date was April 21st 2010.

David Oscar Markus, Buju's attorney, has filed an objection, saying the change violates the federal Speedy Trial Act. This law requires that a criminal defendant’s trial start within 70 days of him being charged or makes an initial appearance, whichever is later. Mr. Markus also requested a hearing on this matter for next Thursday, June 3, 2010 and is awaiting the Court’s response.

Source

Buju trial date delayed yet again!

Buju just can't catch a break huh??? After sitting in jail since December 2009 and expecting to go to court in March then having the date switched to April 12th, then to April 19th, he is now facing another delay. His court date has been pushed a further two months away, and his lawyers are understandably upset.



However in an order released yesterday, the US District Court in the Middle District of Florida, Tampa Division, announced a reschedule of his trial on charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, and possession of a firearm, will now start on Monday, June 21.

The court also announced that a status conference is to be held on Thursday, June 3, at the US Sam Gibbons Courthouse in Tampa, Florida. His lawyers filed a motion for a status conference to discuss the trial date.

Buju’s attorney, David Markus argued that the court rescheduled the trial at a disadvantage to Buju. Witnesses from outside the state of FL have bought plane tickets and booked hotels based on the April 19th date.

The defense team is willing to have the case transferred to a different judge if it means an earlier start of the trial.

You can keep up with updates from Camp Buju by visiting his official trial coverage site you can even read motions filed by his lawyer such as the one for Bond or for alternative relief. which was filed after he was put in max for sharing food with another inmate.

Buju Banton has lost 40 pounds in jail so far! Lawyers want him moved!

According to CaribWorldNews, Buju Banton's Lawyers want him moved out of the Pinellas County Jail where he has been since December.


The attorney for jailed reggae singer, Buju Banton, is requesting an emergency motion to have his client moved out of the current jail facilities.
Attorney David Markus is set to make his case at a hearing set for 10 a.m. Friday, March 27th and is basing his request on dietary concerns.

According to the St. Pete Times, Markus claims the singer, has not been provided with the vegetarian diet according to his Rasta faith and as such, has lost 40 pounds so far.

The request comes just days after Banton, born Mark Myrie, was moved from jail`s general population area on March 18th, to a higher security section as a punishment for giving his food to another inmate, according to the motion.

`The inmate handbook says you are not to be trading food or handing out food,` Pinellas County Sheriff`s Office spokesman Sgt. Tom Nestor, was quoted by the Times as saying. `Food is considered currency.`

But, Markus argues that since the move, the Grammy-nominated reggae singer`s `physical and mental health has been rapidly deteriorating.`

Banton has been charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than 5 kilograms of cocaine. He is accused of participating with two associates in a drug deal in early December to buy cocaine from undercover federal agents in Sarasota.

Source

Who is the Buju Banton informant?????

It has been alleged that the informant in the Buju Banton case has been paid up to 3.3 million USD so far by the government. On Thursday Buju's attorney went to court asking for more information on this informant.




According to the Gleaner:
Buju Banton's lawyer, David Oscar Markus, is claiming the confidential informant, who United States (US) prosecutors are depending on to make their case against his client, for years, has been paid to assist American law-enforcement agencies.

Markus is also claiming the informant has already earned, but has not been paid, for his role in the case against Banton, whose real name is Mark Myrie.

The dancehall star's attorney laid the allegations in court yesterday, as he appealed for more information on the informant, whose name was not disclosed.

Markus told US Magistrate Thomas Wilson that based on the information given to him by prosecutors, the informant was being paid on a contingency basis and is to get a portion of any money the court might order Myrie to forfeit.

This will be in addition to what he is allegedly supposed to pocket if the pro-secution proves the case against Banton.

Markus has repeatedly argued that Myrie was set up.

"The lengths the government will go to to create crime when no crime existed is depressing. Do we really want to be paying criminals millions of dollars to ensnare innocent, hard-working men?" Markus told The Gleaner .

Insufficient information

According to Markus, his preparation for Myrie's trial, which is scheduled to begin on April 19, is being hampered because prosecutors have not provided him with sufficient information to cross-examine the informant.

He said he needed details about a tax case involving the informant, information on the other cases on which the informant had worked, and specifics on his criminal history. However, assistant US attorney James Preston argued that he had complied with court requirements and turned over all information that might help the defence.

According to Preston, providing details on every case on which the informant had worked could put the informant in danger.

The judge agreed that Myrie's lawyer was not necessarily entitled to more information but still ordered the prosecution to give the defence all communication by law enforcement or prosecutors asking for beneficial treatment in the informant's tax case and immigration file.

He also ordered the prosecutor to give the defence a list of cases in which the informant had testified for the prosecution.

Myrie has been in custody since last December when he was slapped with drugs and firearm charges.

The reggae icon is accused of conspiracy to possess cocaine and aiding and abetting the possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking crime.

His lawyers are arguing that the artiste, who exploded on the international scene with the 1995 album Til Shiloh , was entrapped by the informant.

Source

Write to Buju Banton in Jail and 'Hail up the General"

According to this new site set up by Buju Banton's camp : www.thisisbujubanton.wordpress.com fans can write to Buju Banton and make donations to help pay his lawyers.

Fans can write letters of support to the General at Pinellas County Jail:

Mark Anthony Myrie - Docket # 1387202

CEN-4C3-UN03-12-002

Pinellas County Jail

14400 49th Street North

Clearwater, Florida 33762-2877

there is also a defense fund set up for receipt of contributions at :

Bank Name: CitiBank, NA – Branch 43

Bank Address: 1600 Coral Way, Miami, FL 33145

Account Name: David Oscar Markus, PLLC (Defense Fund For Buju Banton)

Account Number: 9117138666

Routing Number: 266086554

Swift Code: CITIUS33

If you want to get updates from Gargamel Camp you can log on to the site by clicking HERE

Buju will not be at Grammys-did not post bail.

Singjay Buju Banton will be a no-show at the Grammy awards to be held at the LA's Staples Center on January 31, as he is being be held without bail on drug charges.




According to a report made by the Tampa Tribune, Banton pleaded not guilty in court yesterday, to federal charges that he conspired to buy cocaine from an undercover law enforcement officer in Miami.

The report said that US Magistrate Anthony Porcelli ordered the singer held without bail after defence attorney David Oscar Markus said he would not oppose the government's request that Banton be detained.

Markus later explained that there was no sense in seeking bail when immigration authorities have placed a detainer on Banton, who is in the United States on an entertainer visa. Markus said he will fight to have the detainer lifted and then seek bail on the criminal charges. He told reporters his client will fight the charges and will not enter into any plea deal with prosecutors.

"We will be going to trial," Markus was quoted as saying. He also added, "He did not commit the crimes he's charged with. He was not in any conspiracy."

Markus also decried the immigration detainer, saying, "There should be a presumption of innocence. Instead there is a presumption of guilt in immigration." He said there is 'no question' his client would be allowed to post bail if not for the detainer.

The criminal case is set for a status conference in February and tentatively set for a March trial. Although cases often don't go to trial so quickly, Markus said he would push for the case to proceed swiftly.

Late last year it was announced that Banton was nominated for a Grammy in the 'Best Reggae Album' category, for his recently released Rasta Got Soul album.

Banton was arrested on December 8, after law-enforcement agents received information from an inside source alleging that the deejay and other persons were in Sarasotta seeking to purchase several kilograms of cocaine. It is further alleged that the singer agreed to meet with the unnamed inside source to conduct the deal and the incident was recorded. Reports continued that on December 10, Banton's co-defendants, Ian Thomas and James Mark, were arrested after they travelled to a facility where they allegedly presented a large quantity of money and were given a bag containing seven kilograms of cocaine. If convicted, Banton faces 20 years' imprisonment.


"There should be a presumption of innocence. Instead there is a presumption of guilt in immigration." He said there is 'no question' his client would be allowed to post bail if not for the detainer.

Source

Anthony B sings his support for Buju Banton!

Reggae artiste Anthony B has voiced his support for Buju Banton in a song called "Free Up The General."



It was recorded on Truckback Records''Crank' rhythm which will also feature songs from other artistes like I-Octane, G Whizz and Gyptian.