In December 2009 Drug Enforcement Administration agents remanded Buju Banton (born Mark Anthony Myrie) to custody in Miami, where the U.S. Attorney charged him with conspiracy to distribute and possession of more than five kilograms of cocaine.

He was found not guilty on the charge of attempted possession of five kilograms or more of cocaine. Four months later, he was sentenced to ten years and one month in a federal prison for the cocaine trafficking conviction.

It is at this second trial that the juror committed misconduct by conducting Internet research about Buju himself, the jury instructions, and the law. The prosecution argued that the research was harmless, but interviews of the jury after the verdict revealed that the initial vote was 10-2 in favor of acquittal.

One of the two jurors favoring conviction was Terri Wright who was found in contempt by the presiding judge. After the tainted jury convicted Buju, the judge was required under the law to sentence him to a minimum mandatory 10 years in federal prison. Ten years! This is more than the big-time supplier of the cocaine received, more than the co-defendant who had a gun received, and more than the purchaser of the cocaine received.

He was being railroaded by people who had their own motives and agendas. He had no prior offenses and was a non violent offender in this case. He has already served 7 years for a victim-less  crime that he did not commit. Please find it in your heart to forgive and free an innocent man who is a pillar in his community and a international role model for peace and unity. Please pardon Mark Anthony Myrie.