Alrighty. I think I have heard enough chitter-chatter about what went down in Miami last week. I wanted to get to the proverbial "bottom" of it all. I was hearing speculation and rumors. People on Facebook were asking questions, but nobody was actually saying what happened. I decided to go digging. Boy, did i NOT like what I found.
The DEA was apparently building a case for the past while and had enough evidence to place Buju Banton in federal detention this past Thursday, December 10. He is facing a charge of conspiracy to possess, with intent to distribute, several kilos of cocaine. A guilty verdict in a case like this carries up to a 20 year prison term!! Here is the most objective journalistic account of what happened, based on my search of mainstream, North American news media.
Courtesy of the Jamaica Gleaner's staff reporter, Livern Barrett:
"GRAMMY-NOMINATED deejay Buju Banton is being held in the Federal Detention Centre, Miami, Florida, in the United States following his arrest last Thursday on drug-related charges, a Miami Police Department spokesman confirmed yesterday.
The internationally renowned artiste whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie was held with "a large quantity of cocaine", according to the law-enforcement agent who identified himself as Officer Gonzalez.
"He is here ... I can't tell you when he will go to court or anything like that, but yes, he is here facing a charge of possession and the intent to distribute cocaine," Gonzalez told The Sunday Gleaner.
He said details of the arrest and subsequent charges would be released tomorrow morning. When asked if and when bail would be offered, Gonzalez said, "I am not in a position to disclose that information."
The Sunday Gleaner was unable to get confirmation of the arrest from the Police High Command in Jamaica and key government sources who had "only heard rumours". This suggests that the local authorities had not been informed of Banton's arrest in the US. Currently, there is tension between the Jamaican Government and the US authorities regarding another narcotics matter.
While tight-lipped about details of the arrest, Gonzalez said that the 36-year-old entertainer had been held with "another person".
A search on the Federal Bureau of Prisons' website yesterday revealed that one "Mark Anthony Myrie, 36, black male" was in custody at the Federal Detention Centre in downtown Miami and listed an inmate number.
Several attempts to contact representatives of Buju's record label, Gargamel Music, were unsuccessful."
Thank you, Livern, for providing the world with the relevant details of this story. I was utterly disgusted with the way the Associated Press issued the report about Buju's detention. Take a look at what they sent down the wire for all the news media to pick up and run with:
"The Associated Press
Sunday, December 13, 2009; 12:36 PM
Sunday, December 13, 2009; 12:36 PM
MIAMI -- Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton is facing a drug charge in Florida.
Banton, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie, has been in U.S. federal custody in Miami since Thursday.
Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman David Melenkevitz said Sunday that Banton was arrested on a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. The charge stems from a DEA case in Tampa.
An e-mail to Banton's independent record label was not immediately returned Sunday.
Banton's ninth album, "Rasta Got Soul," is nominated for a Grammy. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation launched an online petition protesting the nomination, saying some of Banton's earlier lyrics have advocated violence against gay people."
Just pile on the crap, why don't ya? Mar the man's major accomplishments, including his most recent Grammy nomination, with mention of lyrics that were construed as inciting violence against gay people???? As you can tell, I am upset. When I go online and try to find out what the real story is, it is very distracting to read someone's soapbox speech about Buju being homophobic. Clearly, expressions of homophobia didn't get him the Grammy nomination. What makes me laugh even harder are the comments posted on blogs around the internet about the connection between Buju's detention and Boom Bye Bye.
There will never be a winner in the debate between homosexuals and supporters of freedom of expression in reggae music and lyrics. I just worry that Buju's current legal situation will further damage his character in the eyes of his worldly opposition.
Something different now... Enjoy, my valued reader!
Drug Enforcement Administration spokesman David Melenkevitz said Sunday that Banton was arrested on a charge of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine. The charge stems from a DEA case in Tampa.
An e-mail to Banton's independent record label was not immediately returned Sunday.
Banton's ninth album, "Rasta Got Soul," is nominated for a Grammy. The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation launched an online petition protesting the nomination, saying some of Banton's earlier lyrics have advocated violence against gay people."
Just pile on the crap, why don't ya? Mar the man's major accomplishments, including his most recent Grammy nomination, with mention of lyrics that were construed as inciting violence against gay people???? As you can tell, I am upset. When I go online and try to find out what the real story is, it is very distracting to read someone's soapbox speech about Buju being homophobic. Clearly, expressions of homophobia didn't get him the Grammy nomination. What makes me laugh even harder are the comments posted on blogs around the internet about the connection between Buju's detention and Boom Bye Bye.
There will never be a winner in the debate between homosexuals and supporters of freedom of expression in reggae music and lyrics. I just worry that Buju's current legal situation will further damage his character in the eyes of his worldly opposition.
Something different now... Enjoy, my valued reader!
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