Reggae star Buju Banton underwent intense grilling during his cross examination from Assistant District Attorney James Preston, in the United States Sam Gibbons Federal Court in downtown Tampa, Florida today.
Banton was taken to task for a number of boasts he made about being involved in drug dealing to government informant Alexander Johnson today.
Preston asked the artiste why, if he was not a drug dealer, would he make statements that he was a financier of drug ventures being the successful entertainer he was.
But Banton shot back saying that he was just “talking crap” and that if he had been a drug dealer he would not have waited five months to meet up back with Johnson after their August 1, 2009 meeting.
Banton added that if had been a drug he would have jumped at the opportunity to invest in the drug venture or connect Johnson to other people in the drug business.
Throughout the grilling Banton, who lost his cool on several occasions, kept repeating that he was not a drug dealer.
At one point the entertainer said Johnson set him up to ruin his life but took responsibility. “It’s my fault why I’m here. I’m too trusting. If I never let Alexander Johnson in my ears I would not have been here,” he said.
On one occasion Preston said: “You never told him that you did not want to do a drug deal.”
Banton responded: “I did not tell him I wanted to do one either.”
Meanwhile:
United States government informant Alexander Johnson, complained in court today that his confidentiality has been compromised as a result of the Buju Banton Drug case.
The complaint was elicited through a series of questions by prosecutor James Preston.
Asked Preston: “What would you say about your confidentiality?”
“It’s shattered,” responded Johnson.
Preston said pictures have been shown in court, but David Markus, Banton’s attorney, objected.
Yesterday, a picture was shown to the court of an expensive house a what appeared to be a luxury sports car in the driveway. The house belongs to Johnson. Johnson said that the car belonged to his son.
After the jurors were let out of court Markus complained strongly about Preston’s questions, saying the erroneous impression is given that the defendant was responsible for the blowing of Johnson’s confidentiality.
Johnson has been a Government informant since 1996 following his arrest his arrest in 1993 on drug trafficking charges.
Johnson has made over US$3.3 million as a Government informant, substantially more than he made as a drug trafficker, he told the court yesterday.
Buju Banton’s lead attorney David Markus, earlier this afternoon applied to have charges against Buju dropped after the prosecution closed its case.
But magistrate James Moody, said he could not drop the conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine and attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine charges.
However Moody indicated that he would be dropping the charges of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug-trafficking offence; and using the wires to facilitate a drug-trafficking offence.
The trial has adjourned until tomorrow morning.
