The Gargamel Buju Banton's conviction upheld

by DRW
(Jamaica)

Buju Banton

Any lingering hopes that embattled Dancehall/Reggae superstar, Buju Banton would cop an early release from federal prison have been dashed as it's been announced that an appeal to overturn the Grammy-winning singer's conviction has been dismissed.

According to reports, the United States Court of Appeal for the 11th Circuit made the ruling during a hearing that took place on Thursday. In its ruling, the appeals court insisted that it agreed with the jury's decision to convict Buju Banton of federal drug charges in February 2011 as he was found guilty of three charges including conspiracy to distribute cocaine and aiding and abetting a person's use of a telephone to facilitate a drug crime.

The Circuit Court also agreed with the jury that Buju was guilty of possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug crime. That charge had been dismissed by the trial judge after the verdict was read.

Buju's legal team issued its appeal in the artiste's case last December, citing entrapment as well as the possible violation of a constitutional right, dubbed the Speedy Trial Act.

Buju Banton was later sentenced to 10 years in federal prison last June. He initially spent his sentence at the Limestone County Detention Centre in Texas before being sent to a federal facility in Miami after several complaints of ill-treatment and concerns over Buju's safety were raised.

His current release date is slated for February 1, 2019.

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