The Artist Who Sang “Nah Go A Jail Again” Gets Entangled With U.S. Law Enforcement
Not so long ago, Boomshots was in Kingston chopping it up with Busy Signal. He was in great spirits, riding high on his critically acclaimed album Reggae Music Again. Now instead of preparing his next release, Busy is facing extradition to the U.S. on drug charges. Avah Taylor reports on the latest reggae star to run afoul of the law:
For Glendale Goshia Gordon, better known to reggae fans as Busy Signal, it was all good just a week ago. Prior to getting word that the U.S. government had issued an extradition warrant for him, he had performed at the Reggae Splash Tour in Paris and the Amsterdam Reggae Festival last week. Following his performance in Amsterdam, Busy travelled to London, where he was reportedly denied entry and detained by Immigration officials for attempting to enter the country under the assumed name “Reanno Devon Gordon.”
The singjay returned to Jamaica on Monday (May 21) and was arrested at Kingston’s Norman Manley International Airport by members of the Fugitive Apprehension Team, shortly after arriving on a flight from the UK. Jamaican police said he had been under surveillance for several years.
According to one report by The Jamaica Gleaner, Mr. Gordon was wanted in connection with the operations of fallen Tivoli don, Christopher “Dudus” Coke. However, it appears that Mr. Gordon’s current legal woes stem from a drug conspiracy case in 2002 when he was a resident alien in the United States.
At the time, Gordon was charged with one count of conspiracy to distribute and to possess with intent to distribute cocaine, three counts of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. It is further alleged that, while out on bail in March 2002, Gordon removed his electronic monitoring device (ankle bracelet) and fled Minnesota before he could be sentenced.
His co-accused, Rayon Anthony Walker, seemingly struck a deal in exchange for time
Since being taken into custody, Busy Signal has retained the law firm of Knight, Junor & Samuels to represent him. On Thursday morning, he was denied bail and ordered to return to the Half-Way-Tree Resident Magistrate’s Court on June 6. But in a surprising move, the dancehall entertainer waived his right to an extradition hearing.
Speaking in a radio interview, Busy Signal’s attorney, former Jamaican foreign minister, K.D. Knight claimed that his client cannot be tried on the drug-related charges as it would constitute a breach of the current extradition treaty between Jamaica and the US.
Knight explained that under the terms of the extradition treaty between Jamaica and the US, because Busy surrendered on the provisional warrant, he can only be tried for that offence.
Gordon will return to the US next month where he is expected to stand trial for absconding bail.
Busy Signal “Nah Go Jail Again” (2008)
