Media New has learned that Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton is in the Pinellas County Jail while awaiting trial.

He’s being held there as a courtesy to the Federal Marshall’s Office, and according to Pinellas County records, he was booked there Tuesday afternoon.

The 36-year-old is fighting the drug charge against him in Tampa instead of Miami after waived his bail hearing in mid-December in Miami federal court.

A judge ordered a Tampa jury to continue deliberating on whether Jamaican reggae star Buju Banton conspired to buy cocaine from an undercover police officer last year.

12-person jury sent U.S. District Judge James Moody a note Monday saying they hadn’t reached a verdict because none of them had changed their minds since Thursday, when deliberations began after a four-day
trial. Moody had released them for the weekend on Friday.

Banton’s attorney asked for a mistrial, which Moody denied.

Banton is charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine & aiding two others in possessing a firearm during the course of cocaine distribution. He faces up to life in prison.

Banton’s attorney maintains that a U.S. government informant entrapped him.