News Americas, ST. PAUL, Minnesota, Weds. June 27, 2012: Jamaican deejay, Busy Signal, is set to face an August trial in Minnesota for fleeing a decade ago to avoid a drug trial.
United States Chief Magistrate Judge, Arthur Boylan, set August 27, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. as the date for the commencement of the trial before Judge Donovan W. Frank in Courtroom 7C, at 316 North Robert Street, St. Paul, Minnesota.
Busy Signal, born Glendale Gordon, pleaded not guilty to one count of failure to appear in court at his appearance in court on Monday, June 26th and waived the reading of the indictment. He was ordered detained pending his trial.
Busy Signal was charged in February 2002 with two counts related to cocaine trafficking. He fled before his trial was to begin in Minnesota and has been a fugitive for the past decade, Assistant US Attorney Andrew Dunn, said in court.
The singer could face up to five years in prison if convicted on that count. A hearing on all motions will be held before United States Magistrate Judge Franklin L. Noel on July 18, 2012.
Signal was detained by authorities in London last month who suspected he was traveling with false documents, including a passport that listed a different name. He was allowed to fly to Kingston, Jamaica, and was arrested at the airport there by U.S. marshals and waived his right to an extradition hearing.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that his ‘Reggae Music Again’ album has started to pick up sales despite his ongoing legal battles.
