Anti-gay singer Buju Banton jailed for drug offences
Homophobic reggae singer Buju Banton has been sentenced to ten years in jail for drug offences.
The Jamaican star, real name Mark Myrie, was found guilty in February after a previous mistrial.
He was convicted of intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offence, and using a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offence.
Banton was arrested in December 2009 after FBI agents intercepted a drug deal in Florida.
At Tampa federal court in Florida, Judge James S Moody threw out the firearms conviction, saying he accepted Banton was not carrying a weapon and did not know that other men in the drug deal were armed.
The singer’s attorney, David Markus, said he could be free in six years, allowing for time already served and good behaviour.
Banton will appeal against the sentence, his attorney added.
The singer has been accused of making ‘murder music’ with homophobic lyrics.
His notorious 1988 hit Boom Bye Bye appears to incite the burning, shooting in the head and pouring acid over the faces of gay people.
The star claims he has not performed the song live for years but video footage appears to show him singing it at a concert in 2006.
