Buju Banton has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.

The Grammy award winning reggae singer - real name Mark Myrie - was convicted in February of conspiracy to possess cocaine with the intent to distribute it, along with a further drug trafficking offence and a gun charge and told today (23.06.11) in Tampa federal court that he must serve at least five years behind bars.

Buju's lawyer David Markus commented: "This is a sad day for Mr. Myrie. This is a sad day for his native Jamaica. He's a good man who has done great things in his life."

Although the 37-year-old singer argued at his trial in February that he was entrapped by a government informant, the court found he had conspired with two other men to possess at least 5 kg of cocaine.

Mr. Markus has asked that Buju be allowed to serve his sentence as close to Miami - where he was living when he was originally arrested in 2009 - as possible so he can remain near his family.