2019 Release For Buju Banton

Mark 'Buju Banton' Myrie, the reggae icon, who became one after converting to Rastafari, will be in prison until February 2019.

The information is according to the examiner.com. The United States Bureau of Prisons website confirmed the official release date.

There were rumours Buju would serve six years when time served and good behaviour were taken into account.

Time served

However, those rumours were answered by the confirmation, as the website explained that time served and lenience for good behaviour had already been included in the calculation of the release date.

"... the bureau's official release date set for February 2019 includes the time the prominent reggae entertainer served in prison prior to and between his two trials within the last year," the website reported.

Examiner.com went on to interview David Rowe, a professor and highly regarded attorney-at-law, who explained that Buju Banton has been given credit for 16 per cent of "federal gain time", that is time that he serves while not violating federal rules behind bars. Should he violate the rules, Buju's sentence could be extended.

Buju was sent to prison after being convicted of three drug-related charges in February. The charges came as a result of a December 2009 incident in which he allegedly conspired to organise a drug deal within a police-controlled warehouse.

The Driver A hitmaker was slapped with a 10-year sentence.

Examiner.com also pointed out that Buju's lawyer, David Markus, was not planning to go away any time soon, and would be appealing the ruling.

Buju has yet to officially begin serving his time. According to the website, he is listed as in transit as he is expected to be sent to a federal prison in Mississippi.