Reggae star’s drug case moved to Tampa

MIAMI (AP) — Grammy nominated Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton will fight a drug charge against him in Tampa instead of Miami.

Banton waived his bail hearing Wednesday in Miami federal court. His case is being prosecuted in Tampa, where he will be transferred.

U.S. Magistrate Judge William Turnoff issued a temporary order of detention for the 36-year-old singer, whose real name is Mark Anthony Myrie.

At Wednesday’s court appearance, Banton wore a beige jail jumpsuit over a white T-shirt, with his long dreadlocks tied up off his neck and his hands shackled in front of him. “He believes that because the indictment was filed out of Tampa, that’s where the case should be defended,” Banton’s attorney, Herbert E. Walker III, said. Banton has been in custody since last Thursday, charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine.

According to a federal affidavit, Banton and two others traveled to Sarasota last week to buy a large amount of cocaine from an undercover law-enforcement officer. The DEA was tipped off by a confidential informant who agreed to wear a recording device during the drug- negotiation session.