According to the Jamaica Observer, Ian Thomas, the co-defendant of convicted Grammy award-winning Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton, was sentenced to 51 months of imprisonment. Mr. Thomas, once a good friend of Buju Banton (aka Mark Myrie), had petitioned the court for a lenient sentence of 18 months in exchange for his cooperation with prosecutors. “Mr Thomas requests that the court deem a sentence of 18 months more than reasonable in this case,” Clearly, the judge sees things differently!
Thomas, along with James Mack were arrested in December 2009 during an undercover sting operation in Tampa, Florida. Both men plead guilty and cooperated with federal prosecutors. Buju Banton was also later found guilty on drug conspiracy charges.
Thomas’ sentence of 51 months is still much less than the 15 years being faced by Buju Banton. Buju Banton is currently incarcerated while awaiting his sentencing on June 23.
