Reggae star Buju Banton found guilty on 3 of 4 drug charges

Grammy-winning Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton was convicted Tuesday of conspiring to set up a cocaine deal in Florida two years ago.

A federal jury returned their verdict after deliberating for 11 hours over two days on the fate of Banton, who won a Grammy last week for best reggae album for his work entitled "Before the Dawn."

He was found guilty of three of the four charges he faced.

The 37-year-old Banton, whose given name is Mark Myrie, was on trial on accusations that he conspired with two other men in setting up a drug deal in December of 2009.

Prosecutors argued that Banton had several conversations with a confidential informant in which he posed as a broker of drug deals. Defence attorneys countered that he was simply a "big talker" trying to impress the informant, but that he wasn't involved in any drug deal.

Banton was found guilty of:

• conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine
• possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offence
• using the wires to facilitate a drug trafficking offense

He was acquitted of attempted possession with the intent to distribute cocaine

Much of the case hinged on meetings and phone calls that the informant recorded. Once the bust was made the informant, who was working with the Drug Enforcement Administration, collected US$50,000 in commission.

Banton will remain in custody until his sentencing. He faces up to 20 years in prison.