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December 14, 2009
Singer with conspiracy to possess and intent to distribute cocaine.
By Gil Kaufman
The arrest of Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton on Thursday in Florida on conspiracy to possess and intent to distribute cocaine followed an investigation that sounds like an episode of the 1980s cop drama "Miami Vice.."
According to the Tampa Tribune, the arrest of one of the most controversial modern reggae acts to come from the island nation in the post-Bob Marley era began with a meeting last Tuesday at a Sarasota, Florida, restaurant called La Tropicana de Havana. It was there that Banton (born Mark Anthony Myrie) allegedly pulled up in a silver Land Rover with the license plate "JAH ONE" with another man named Ian Thomas and an unidentified woman and allegedly attempted to arrange to buy several kilos of cocaine.
Police recorded the meeting, and according to the criminal complaint, a confidential source told the singer to go to a warehouse under surveillance, where they met with an undercover Sarasota police officer who showed him and the woman a car that had 20 kilos of cocaine stashed in secret compartments. Banton and Thomas allegedly sampled the drugs and negotiated the price for a few hours, then left, only to return the next day after Thomas called the source and expressed interest in buying 15 kilos of the drug.
Another meeting took place Wednesday at an Applebee's restaurant in Sarasota, where Thomas allegedly told the source his group wanted to purchase 5 kilos and possibly more at a later time. He also reportedly said another member of his crew was in the parking lot with about $125,000 in cash.
By late afternoon, Thomas and the source left the restaurant and met with a man named James Mack, who was in the driver's seat of the car and who returned to the Applebee's to continue negotiating the deal, according to the criminal complaint.
On Thursday morning, Thomas and Mack allegedly drove back to the warehouse, where an undercover Sarasota officer saw Mack pull large amounts of cash from a hidden panel in the rear driver's side of the Honda. After inspecting the cash, the undercover officer gave a bag with 7 kilos of cocaine to Thomas and Mack. Officers then gave the signal to arrest the two, while Banton was simultaneously apprehended in Miami.
All three were charged with conspiracy to possess cocaine with intent to distribute and are being held with no bond. Grammy nominee Banton — whose recent U.S. tour was plagued by calls for protest from the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, who decry the homophobic lyrics to his 1992 song "Boom Bye Bye" — is expected to appear in a Miami courtroom later this week. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the charges. A spokesperson for the singer could not be reached for comment at press time.
Posted by YardFlex at December 14, 2009 09:44 PM
Comments
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Posted by: Charlie
on December 14, 2009 10:18 PM
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what can i say? o di egwu
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Posted by: Diane Addo
on December 14, 2009 11:10 PM
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Posted by: Fyah Ras
on December 14, 2009 11:25 PM
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Buju Banton A Coke Head, Me Know Dat Long Time.Sorry Fi him. Him Ano Rasta.
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Posted by: South London
on December 14, 2009 11:53 PM
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'BOUT DEM A RASTA.....Ive read this version in a Tampa newspaper too.....DAMMMNNNNN!!.... if this is how it goes fe real......its gonna be very very sticky for The Gargamel.....ppl will say set up...BUT IF THIS IS HOW IT GOES FE TRUE....How the f*** you gonna find/put yrself in that position Buju!!! Being the Big Artiste you are? DAMMMN!!!? Ah show off...Yu ah show off....or were you under a form of duress.......in the Tampa edition they say "he could enter a plea bargain..if he gives up information".....Which would THEN make him a Informer should he go down that road....This whole mess is F***in UNBELIEVABLE
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Posted by: Buss it
on December 14, 2009 11:59 PM
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Posted by: Mike
on December 15, 2009 12:03 AM
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D feds have perfectly calculated and carried out this to put d nigga in trouble. Guess d batty boys have so much power & connection with the police.
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Posted by: Buffalo range
on December 15, 2009 12:12 AM
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He's got into their trap this time, I'm sure it took d po-po's some time to plan this. Now its done I'm sure d GLAAD folks wud be pleased with their success.
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Posted by: gtkrasta
on December 15, 2009 01:31 AM
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damn buju why such talent is going to go waste
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Posted by: Micheal Hall
on December 15, 2009 01:51 AM
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IF THIS STORY IS TRUE !! A wha de BREAD CART !!! Wrong with Banton...They are going to serve his ASS! In more ways than one...The going to call him BUJU BAntom ! In there ...What the F___ K !! Was he thinking!!! Don't he now them sodomites wanted him dead or alive....They are all skiiining there teets.Right now....Boom BYE BYE in a sound guy HEAD! One of the best artist of our time...Til Shiloh is/was a masterpiece!!!! Lawd help him!!Jah Know ...Stick to the Greens Bredren!!!!
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Posted by: jango
on December 15, 2009 02:49 AM
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bwoy dem battybwoy dem nuh easy..dem frame di man buju
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Posted by: RICH
on December 15, 2009 03:40 AM
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Posted by: Yardy
on December 15, 2009 07:25 AM
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Ah frame them ah frame up the man. Boom Bye Bye in ah fagott head Jamaicans need fee wake up and see is ah plan by kinf fish. As the man get nominated this type of f***ry happen. Them bad mind to bloodclat
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Posted by: rick oo1
on December 15, 2009 07:29 AM
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buju should've count his losses and exit the usa the very minute the tour started to go wrong with the gays intervention..It seems as if the song driver has comeback to haunt him...
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Posted by: jen
on December 15, 2009 08:41 AM
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mi know a pin them pin rasta,dem battyboy dah a one thing fi all a dem to the bigman in the middleast.
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Posted by: niiarde tagoe
on December 15, 2009 10:26 AM
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Posted by: THE DON ONE
on December 15, 2009 10:57 AM
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YOW UNNUH NEED FI FESS UP WHEN A MAN FUCKED UP....AND IF A SO THE THING GO BUJU BANTON FUCKED UP...WHAT IS HE DOING GETTING HIS HAND WET IN THESE TYPE OF TRANSACTIONS...REMEMBER A HIM DID SING THE SONG "DRIVA DONT STOP AT ALL, CARRY THIS ARIZONA ROUND A ALBERMARLE"? WELL HIM SHOULD A USE DRIVA FI DO THE TRANSACTION. THE MAN THEM SEH THEY HAVE BUJU SAMPLING THE COCAINE( MEAN THAT HE TASTE THE SHIT TO SEE IF ITS REAL), SO HOW CAN HE BE FRAMED...PEOPLE LET ME TELL UNNUH THAT ITS NOT ONLY BUJU ALONE THAT IS DEALING DRUGS...ALOT OF THESE ENTERTAINERS ARE DOING THE SAME THING BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO SUPPLY IT....ANOTHER THING PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, IS THAT THE FEDS ARE NOT COMING TO GET YOU UNLESS THEY HAVE SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE AGAINST YOU TO PROSECUTE.NOW BUJU STUCK A MIAMI FI A LONG WHILE CAUSE UNTIL THAT CASE IS FINISH, HE AINT LEAVING THE COUNTRY...I HOPE THAT ALL THESE ALLEGATIONS ARE NOT TRUE..
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Posted by: James
on December 15, 2009 12:01 PM
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It was a perfectly crafted plot to get this man locked up, dont know much about him, but with d little info I've got from the web, I can deduce that certain groups are violating his rights to freedom of speech and would stop at nothing to see him off their way.
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Posted by: Serious ting
on December 15, 2009 12:06 PM
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They have been waiting to hear that he's been pinned, thats why when they got the info, they spread it like wild fire, its making headlines everywhere world-over 'HOMOPHOBIC BUJU BANTON LOCKED UP'. They succeeded and are celebrating it....Father God nah sleep.
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Posted by: 1 DON
on December 15, 2009 01:57 PM
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Its obvious this thomas guy flip buju, you don't need glass to see that, but as they said, becareful of who you let in your house, not evryone who profess to be your friend is your friend
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Posted by: anthony
on December 15, 2009 03:11 PM
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Buju is grammy nominee, Gay & Lesbian have been protesting the artist big time from then...So everybody must know that a set up, Them don't want him get him grammy. Buju is a big paying artist, He don't need to sell drug for money....
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Posted by: Wade Cameron
on December 15, 2009 04:21 PM
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This is pay back for the song that Buju Banton had sang back in the days. What a crazy attempt to get back at a artist,for freedom of speech. The system is truly corrupt.
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Posted by: ann boyd
on December 15, 2009 05:06 PM
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WHO ARE THESE GUYS IAN THOMAS AND JAMES MACK?DOES ANY ONE KNOWS THESE IDIOTS...
WHO DID BUJU CALL FIRST TO MAKE THIS COKE DEAL IS FANS WANT TO KNOW THE TRUTH......
FEDERAL CRIME YOU HAVE TO SERVE 85 PERCENT OF YOUR SENTENCE...THIS IS NOT A STATE CRIME..
WHOEVER DID THIS TO BUJU KARMA IS A BITCH....BUJU DID WRONG BUT WHT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND....
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Posted by: tanya
on December 15, 2009 05:34 PM
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Buju shoulda know betta seh eye ah watch him everywhere in America and every other country. Wi di hect himma do wid cocaine inna di first place when gay and babylon a watch him every move. (shake head!) am just so disappointed in most of these Jamaican artist..reggae/dancehall is now a big joke.
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Posted by: kelly
on December 15, 2009 05:47 PM
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i know usually in a case such like this and many others details usually are not released to the public...so wats really good..next ting he was appreneded else where not at the location where the deal was made..jutice will previal.
i hope and pray very hard like its a family member in that situation that these allegations are false.I APPRECIATE his music because it motivates me very (one day things must get better)and for all you people who pass judgement on the dread 2012 is near ,god once destroyed sadom and gamaro and he will do it again BATTYBWOY fe DEAD
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Posted by: blackwallstreet
on December 15, 2009 07:22 PM
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BUJU KEEP STRONG,YOU KNOW WHAT I DON'T LIKE ABOUT SOME OF US JAMAICANS?WE ARE TOO QUICK TO BELIEVE ANY THING WE HEAR.NUMBER 1 A MIAMI MI LIVE FOR THE PAST 15 YEARS,I KNOW HOW THESE WHITE,SPANISH POLICE GET DOWN.WHEN IT COMES TO BLACK PPL.BUJU WAS SET UP,AND RIGHTS VOILATED,
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Posted by: blackwallstreet
on December 15, 2009 07:25 PM
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DID YOU ALL ASK YOUR SELF,WHY IS THE CASE MOVING TO TAMPA.INSTEAD OF MIAMI?BECAUSE THE WHITE BOYS KNOW HE IS FAMOUS.NOW HOW THEY KNOW THAT.
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Posted by: Lasharella
on December 15, 2009 07:44 PM
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Yow, mi Granny woulda seh: If yuh nuh guh under fowl-roost, fowl cyaa shit pon yuh!!" Buju fi kno seh him bigga dan dem deh sing-ting deh!! If him cyaa mek a million inna one year, him will mek it inna a year and a half, jus' sticking to him music craft. Mi naw cast judgement, but it nuh look good a bloodclawt!! Best of luck to yuh, Gawgamel............'Til Shiloh!!
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Posted by: K
on December 15, 2009 07:51 PM
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I DONOT KNOW BUJU BUT I CAN SAY. I FEEL IT TO MY BONE PEOPLE LET US STAND BY HIM. PRAY FOR HIM DO NOT BASH HIM WE A ALL JAMAICAN AND IF A MONEY IT TAKE LETS PUT SOME SHOW ON HAVE A RADIO TON TO HELP WITH HIS LAWYERS LETS SEE HOW THEM RADIO HOST A GO DEAL WITH IT I AM WILLING TO DONATE ONE WEEK PAY CHEQUE TO THAT PLEASE DO NOT SAY BUJU HAVE MONEY. BECAUSE TWO LAWER VISIT THAT DONE. BOY FATHER GOD ONE THING I BLAME BUJU FOR AND I SAY IT TO ALL OF MY FRIENDS BUJU SHAKE THE BATTY BOY THEM HAND LOOK HOW BAD BLESSING A GO TAKE HIM AND LOOK WHAT HAPPEN THEM ASS FUCKER SALT AND NASTY BOY I WILL FEEL BETTER IF THEM BAR HIM FROM THE U.S THAN KEEP HIM IN JAIL PLEASE PEOPLE LETS STAND BESIDE HIM LETS GO A FLORIDA FOR HIM COURT DATE AND THEY A COURT WITH HIM LETS DO IT LIKE WHEN ZEEKS THEY A CIRCUT AND JIM LETS HAVE THE THING LOCK AND LETS LOCK THE HIGHWAY PEN RELAY STYLE. AND DAVAN LEVEY YOU START THE RADIO TON SEEN BUJU MI LOVE YOU MY YOUTH I AM PRAYING HARD FI YOU AND YOUR KIDS THEM TOO LOVE YOU MY YOUTH YOU MOTHER A WATCH OVER YOU NUFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEE
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Posted by: Sharon
on December 15, 2009 08:04 PM
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TO MISS DON ONE WHAT THE FUCK YOU TALKING ABOUT MONEY HAVE FI MAKE MAN HAVE FI LOOK IT FUCK YOU HATER NOT BECAUSE THEM FEDS BOY SAY THAHT IS TRUE THEM A LIER THEM BIG TIME MOB LIER SO FUCK YOU NIGGER AND GO MARCH WITH THE BATTY BOY THEM
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Posted by: Ras
on December 15, 2009 09:45 PM
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What do the dykes and fags haffi do wit cocaine? Why Applebees? That place sucks.
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Posted by: shack
on December 16, 2009 01:04 AM
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But why would Buju do cokedeals? He earns more than that on his stageshows. This is very strange. I can´t rule out anything.
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Posted by: shack
on December 16, 2009 01:16 AM
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Who are Thomas and Mack? Are they part of Bujus entourage? If not, who send Buju out there alone with them?
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Posted by: mullo
on December 16, 2009 07:31 AM
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BUJU IS AN HYPOCRITE... HE PROFESSES RASTAFARIANISM AND IS DEALING WITH COCAINE THAT DESTROYS.. I WILL BURN ALL 6 ALBUMS I HAVE OF HIM... I WILL START TO LISTEN ONLY LOVE SONGS FROM NOW ON... GIVE HIM 70 YEARS... HE IS A DISGRACE...
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Posted by: BORN FREE
on December 16, 2009 07:48 AM
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wow.... thats sucks for buju
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Posted by: Danielle
on December 16, 2009 08:36 AM
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I dont care what the Papers & the FEDS say he is not guilty. Buju nuh short a money why would he mess up his career by doing this. He is innocent those people have been fighting him from all angles this is a plot to kill his career but they cant stop Rasta why persecute a man for voicing his opion which is what the most high ordered. He will over come this will not keep him down.
Love and Blessings from Antigua BWI.
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Posted by: GMon
on December 16, 2009 09:42 AM
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Umm, to 'set up' posters, the definition of a setup is that the person setup was innocent.
So how can Buju have been setup if he actually did what the report says (met to arrange a coke deal, tested the coke, etc.)?
He may have been 'targeted', but not setup, he did this, he is in the business of dealing coke and does coke himself then.
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Posted by: CandAce
on December 16, 2009 09:49 AM
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I don't think that Thomas and Mac had anything to do with a set up. I don't think it was an inside job at all. Except for maybe the mysterious "unidentified woman". Where is she now? Why is she still unidentified?
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Posted by: marlon
on December 16, 2009 11:20 AM
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de i not even dead yet and ear how uno gwaan people caa study dem uno leav rasta alone pussy hole.
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Posted by: Scarie
on December 16, 2009 12:47 PM
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Buju stay strong bless up. Buju made a coment and people take it out of context about Bob Marley. Remember the Marleys run florda so becareful who you talk to in my town banton they have people in high places my friend. That was a plan from the day you made that coment my friend. You was set up by the same people who you think is you friends and company. you invite them in your house to eat and drink with you.Banton know who set him up I am not going to say much more I will watch the space. After this they wont be coming back to JA because they know what they did.
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Posted by: nak
on December 16, 2009 02:49 PM
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Salassie must ton inna eim grave,Buju should trim after this, Is he really that bruc to sell him self to the devil????
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Posted by: k
on December 16, 2009 06:19 PM
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to mullo go suck you mother and fuck you father go burn up you little dick fuck you and six album .buji dun get pay fi them fool go sew up you big batty hole and leave him alone you need 70 gun shot talking about the man fi get 7o years a you a the disgrace because you a fuck batty shitman
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Posted by: C-roca
on December 18, 2009 08:57 AM
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Criminal acts mi seh, it sound like buju a true to life criminal and thats not a good ting. Him fi bun fi what he do, he slander the name of rastafari wit his actions...he ah get busted but the only thing that set him up was himself and him own stupidity and foolishness. Fyah bun a weakheart cokehead!!!
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Posted by: venise
on December 18, 2009 08:27 PM
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A MAN IS INNOCENT,UNTILL PROVEN GUILTY.LEAVE ALL JUDGMENT UNTO GOD.
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