Buju Banton’s defense attorney, David Oscar Markus, is asking the judge to reduce the 15 year mandatory minimum imposed on his client for a cocaine deal he had no money invested in and a gun that wasn’t his, calling it “way more than necessary” in documents filed with the court. The brief included “letters from actor, activist, and humanitarian Danny Glover, as well as from several of Banton’s 15 children,” reports the Jamaica Observer. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 23rd.
Buju Banton’s defense attorney David Oscar Markus filed a motion in federal court requesting that his client be granted bail while an appeal is pending and also asked for an acquittal or at the very least, another trial.
Dancehall artist Buju Banton was found guilty on three of the four federal charges against him reports the Jamaica Observer. The 12-person Tampa jury delivered the verdict after two days of deliberations. He was immediately taken into custody and will await sentencing for cocaine he didn’t buy and a gun he never saw. Defense Attorney David Oscar Markus reportedly indicated that they will appeal the ruling.
Just like before, DEA agent and lead investigator, Dan McCaffrey, acknowledged “there was no evidence” of Buju Banton being a “drug trafficker” on the opening day of the dancehall artist’s retrial on Monday reports the Jamaica Observer. Defense Attorney David Oscar Markus was also able to get him to admit—under cross examination—that Buju didn’t put the money up or stand to profit from the transaction he was arrested for. McCaffrey even went on to say that there’s no link between the man who financed the deal and Buju. However, the agent did counter that he was likely a broker. Today, jurors heard tapes of Buju talking about drugs, but his lawyer said it was just that, talk.
After failing to secure a conviction against Buju Banton in the first trial, federal prosecutors have developed a new legal strategy: hit him with additional charges. The reggae champion’s retrial begins Monday and defense attorney David Oscar Markus will now have to defend him against attempting to possess with intent to distribute cocaine and using a communication facility in the commission of an act, in addition to the original charges reports the Jamaica Gleaner.
For the first time since he was arrested and held for a ridiculous amount of time in prison, dancehall legend Buju Banton returned victoriously to the stage on Sunday night to a throng of very happy fans in Miami. Other reggae greats like Everton Blender, Nadine Sutherland, Freddie McGregor, Gyptian, and Wayne Wonder kicked off the show. Then the man of the hour ignited the adoring crowd. Read more »
After numerous rulings against him, a tiny bit of justice was awarded to Buju Banton in court today: bail. His defense attorney, David Oscar Markus, successfully argued that his client is not a flight risk for his December retrial and a federal judge agreed, setting bail at $250,000 along with some pretty strict conditions reports the Jamaica Observer. He must remain in his Florida home, wear one of those monitoring bracelets, pay for 24 hour security, and take mandatory drug tests, which means he won’t even be able to smoke some much needed weed after more than 10 months of incarceration.
Dancehall artist-extraordinaire Buju Banton is gonna have to spend another week rotting in a Tampa jail while a federal judge rules whether or not to grant him bail reports the Jamaica Observer. After the prosecution took their sweet-ass time responding to a motion filed by defense attorney David Oscar Markus last week in lieu of a hung jury, Judge Anthony Porcelli said he wants to look over the arguments some more before he makes a decision, extending the nail-biting drama for friends, supporters and Buju himself by at least seven more days.
Buju just can’t catch a break. Although his cocaine trial will start Monday after numerous delays spanning several months, it’s being reported that both his co-defendants will now turn state’s evidence and testify against him in exchange for reduced sentences. Superstar defense lawyer David Oscar Markus will argue that the government entrapped his client with an informant who basically makes a living working for the DEA and was paid $35,000 to help snag the dancehall legend. Read more »
Without providing any reason, a federal judge pushed back the date for Buju Banton’s drug trail from April 19 to June 21. The dance hall king’s defense lawyer, David Oscar Markus, isn’t so happy about U.S. District Judge James Moody’s decision and is urging him to reconsider. With the performer being locked up since December, they’re getting awfully close to violating that whole speedy trial thing. |CBS News|
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