Jamaican reggae superstar Buju Banton has been sentenced to 10 years behind bars by United States magistrate Jim Moody in Tampa, Florida. The Gargamel who will serve his time at the FCI facility in Miami was charged with conspiracy to possess with the intent to distribute cocaine, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense and using a telephone to facilitate a drug trafficking offense.

Despite pleas from his children, other family members and friends for leniency, the judge handed down the stiff penalty. However the sentence was lowered from 15 years after the judge dropped a gun charge. Banton,whose real name is Mark Myrie, will also serve 5 years probation after he is released.

Banton’s lawyer David Oscar Markus has signaled his intention to appeal the verdict to have the artiste released. Supporters of the superstar wept openly after the sentence was handed down in front of a packed courthouse. The reggae icon, who was convicted in February, has been in custody since his arrest in December 2009.