Buju Banton Drug Retrial Begins in Tampa

Reggae star Buju Banton’s second trial on drug conspiracy charges began Monday, one day after he won his first Grammy award. Federal prosecutors in Tampa claim that Banton helped set up a deal to buy $135,000 in cocaine. Banton (real name: Mark Myrie) faces life in prison if convicted.

Jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict at Banton’s first trial in September 2010. The judge declared a mistrial as a result of the hung jury.

According to prosecutors, the drug deal was first discussed on a flight from Spain to Miami on which Banton sat next to Alexander Johnson, a government informant. They claim that the conversation turned to cocaine and that Banton told Johnson that he was part of cocaine ring out of South America. The government plans to play recordings of conversations between Banton and the informant.

Banton’s defense attorney told jurors in his opening statement that authorities never found evidence such a drug ring existed. He said that Banton was trying to impress Johnson, whom he believed could help with his music career. Banton will testify later in the trial, according to his lawyer.

Johnson testified on Monday, disclosing that he earned $50,000 for his work with the government on the case. He also told jurors that he earned up to 30 percent of money seized in any drug case he works on, and once served prison time for drug offenses.

Banton’s two co-defendants, James Mack and Ian Thomas, have pleaded guilty and are scheduled to be sentenced next month. Thomas was Banton’s driver and is godfather to two of his children. Prosecutors say Banton facilitated the purchase of 15 kilograms of cocaine that resulted in the arrest of Mack and Thomas as they tried to buy the cocaine.

The retrial is expected to last through the week.