Jury Selection To Begin In Buju Banton Drug Trial

TAMPA (CBS4) - Jury selection is scheduled to get under way in Tampa on Monday for the re-trial of Jamaican reggae start Buju Banton on federal drug trafficking trial charges.

Prosecutors say the 37-year old Banton and two other men conspired to buy a shipment of cocaine from an undercover officer. Banton's attorney say his client was entrapped by a confidential informant and got in over his head while trying to impress a man he thought could help his music career. Banton was arrested in a December 2009 sting operation.

The jury deadlocked in his first trial in September. If convicted, the Tamarac based singer whose real name is Mark Myrie could face up to life in prison.  The two other men pleaded guilty and agreed to cooperate with investigators. Their sentencing hearings are scheduled next month.

Banton's 2010 album "Before the Dawn" is nominated for a Grammy award Sunday night.

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