Buju Banton Update: Shocking Details Revealed

Photo Credit: Jonathon Mannion

Thursday, March 4th proved to be a revelatory day for Team Banton, who appeared in US District Court in Tampa, Florida for two hearings. The first proceeding at 8:30am was handled by the judge who will actually be overseeing the trial, Judge James Moody. After conferring with the attorneys, Moody locked in the trial start date for Monday, April 19th.

The second proceeding, held before Magistrate Thomas Wilson at 10:30am, focused on the series of motions filed last month by Banton’s criminal defense attorney, David Oscar Markus, requesting additional information about the government snitch who set up Buju Banton. According to Markus, the government has been slow to turn over documents, transcripts and other key information related to the case.
Here are a few of the shocking details that were revealed about the still unnamed government snitch who set up the Reggae icon:

He transported over 2,000 kilos of cocaine and 3-4,000 kilos of marijuana between 1984 and 1993!
He was convicted in South Florida in 1993 of distributing cocaine in a case that brought a minimum mandatory sentence of 10 years!
He has been paid 3.3 million dollars for helping law enforcement (DEA, Customs, FBI, Sarasota PDs) in numerous cases over several years!
He is a legal permanent resident of the United States from Colombia and was granted that immigration status only after law enforcement requested it!
He is paid on a contingency basis and looks to collect approximately $35,000 from the Banton case!
His credibility was called into question by one judge who doubted the truthfulness of his testimony in a case!
He is currently involved in a tax dispute with the IRS!
He has worked consistently with Assistant US Attorney James Preston, the prosecutor handling Banton’s case, for the last 10 years!

Markus argued in court that he needs more information to adequately cross-examine the government’s star witness, including specifics on the snitch’s criminal history, details of his tax case, transcripts from other cases he has testified in and a list of the amounts of money he has earned in each case. Assistant US Attorney Preston countered that his office already turned over any favorable information that might help the defense, as required by the court.

Nevertheless, Magistrate Wilson ordered the prosecution to provide the defense with a list of all the cases (w/ case numbers) the informant has testified in and any communications by criminal law officer or prosecutor asking for beneficial treatment in the informant’s tax case and immigration file. The prosecution has 14 days to turn over everything to Team Banton.

Tags: banton, buju, case, court, dancehall, drugs, law, reggae

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Comment by Carlos Cadiz on April 5, 2010 at 9:23pm: The dangers of being black and successful it's like a black man driving a BMW through the streets of New York instantly he's a criminal.

We support you buju!

Comment by Advanced Media Production on March 25, 2010 at 3:52pm: COMING ON CMC/CARIBVISION ON APRIL 4, 5:00PM See channel guide on our website www.ampglobal.tv/home.html

Comment by Miss Best on March 12, 2010 at 7:14am: I had a dream that Buju was released and I was about to read the article but woke up before I could. Now I am reading this. Yes I do get dreams and visions in the past mostly from meditation

Comment by SIM SIM on March 11, 2010 at 10:02pm: Praying for you Buju...

Comment by DeeJ Danz La Mala Daniela on March 11, 2010 at 5:24pm: Mark get out those trouble soon! We are all with you!

Comment by Marie Budhan on March 10, 2010 at 9:25pm: Interesting.

Comment by Cat Dana on March 10, 2010 at 9:30am: Team Banton!!! Praying for Buju.. Truth will soon be brought to light. Seen!!!

Comment by Catherine on March 9, 2010 at 11:21pm: Respect Buju

Comment by CLIFFORD CAMPBELL on March 9, 2010 at 6:14pm: well we have heard all the sayings on other matter concerning other jamaican,but we have not heard a word from the goverment on this matter ,not a word.so we have to give thanks to this lawyer for trying. I am a jamaican and I am giving a lot of prayers for the BUJU BANTON TEAM, respect and keep the faith.

Comment by DEE B. on March 9, 2010 at 3:10pm: Im NOT surprised by all of this, the whole thing seemed 'fishy' from dy1 plus the TRUTH always comes to light!! Thnx for this update.