James Moody

Buju Banton: Judge Orders Hearing to Probe Possible Juror Misconduct

Since his arrest on dubious drug charges back in 2009, reggae superstar Buju Banton has been caught up in a rolling legal circus. His first federal trial closed with hung jury. A second ended with a guilty verdict and a ten-year sentence; the follow-up appeals go-around might land the defendant an a ... More >>

Buju Banton: Five More Years in Jail?

Another Juror Says Buju Banton Is Not Guilty of Gun Charge

Terri Wright has been called to serve jury duty seven times. But none of the cases compares to the federal drug and gun trial of reggae singer Buju Banton. That one "took the cake," as she puts it. She still talks to coworkers about the murky back story of the federal snitch, Alex Johnson, and says ... More >>

Buju Banton Hires Chokwe Lumumba as New Attorney

Incarcerated reggae star Buju Banton has switched attorneys and hired Chokwe Lumumba to continue his fight against federal drug and gun charges. A Tampa jury found Buju guilty last year of two drug-related charges and a gun charge. The trial judge, however, tossed the gun charge and sentenced t ... More >>

Buju Banton's Attorney Asks Judge To Reconsider Denying New Trial

Updated at 3:10 p.m.: Judge James Moody has denied the request detailed below. Buju Banton's legal team on Thursday filed a motion requesting that Judge James Moody reconsiders his recent decision to deny the reggae star a new trial on a gun charge. It's the latest development in a complicated& ... More >>

Judge Denies Buju Banton's Request for New Trial

Federal Judge James Moody on Tuesday denied Buju Banton's request for a new trial. In his decision, the judge wrote that there is no need for a new trial in light of an Atlanta appeals court's ruling that there was sufficient evidence to convict the reggae star on a gun charge.Under the new ruling, ... More >>

Buju Banton's Attorney: "We Had Ten Really Good Issues for the Appeal"

​The Department of Justice should have filed a response to Buju Banton's appeal on Friday, but as has been the government's style throughout the more than two-year-long saga, it's dragging its heels. Now federal prosecutors have until February 10 to counter arguments made in the hulking, 17,000-wo ... More >>

Terence Blanchard