The informant who helped federal agents build a drug case against Jamaican
reggae singer Buju Banton has been paid $3.3 million for helping law enforcement
in numerous cases over several years.
Defense attorney David Oscar Markus told U.S. Magistrata Thomas Wilson
this morning that prosecutors have not provided enough information about
the informant for him to be prepared to cross-examine him at Myrie's trial,
scheduled for April 19.
Markus outlined information that the government has given him about the informant:
• The informant's name, which Markus did not disclose in court.
• He was paid more than $35,000 for his cooperation in the case against Myrie
and is also paid on a contingency basis, receiving a portion of the money the
judge orders the defendant to forfeit.
• He was convicted in South Florida in 1993 of distributing cocaine in a case
that brought a minimum mandatory prison sentence of 10 years.
• He transported large amounts of cocaine and marijuana between 1984 and 1993.
• He is a legal, permanent resident of the United States from Colombia and was
granted that immigration status after law enforcement requested it.
• When he testified in one case, a judge questioned his credibility.
• He is involved in a tax dispute with the IRS.
• He has worked with the prosecutor in Myrie's case for more than 10 years.
But Marcus said he needs more details, such as details about the tax case,
information on other cases the informant has worked and specifics on the
informant's criminal history.
Marcus also asked for a list of the amounts of money the informant was paid
in each case. Marcus said he thinks the amount has escalated over the years.
Assistant U.S. Attorney James Preston said he has complied with court
requirements and turned over all information that might help the defense.
Providing details on every case the informant has worked could put the
informant in danger, Preston said.
Although Wilson said Marcus wasn't necessarily entitled to more information,
the judge ordered the prosecution to give the defense any communications by
law enforcement or prosecutors asking for beneficial treatment in the informant's
tax case and immigration file. Wilson also ordered the prosecutor to give the
defense a list of cases in which the informant has testified for the prosecution.
source: Tampa Bay Online