Convicted Jamaican drug lord Leebert Ramcharan is reportedly appealing his 37 year prison sentence and sources say he is now seeking a plea deal with the US government.
The Montego Bay businessman, who was designated by the United States as an international drug kingpin, was convicted in May 2008 for conspiring to smuggle cocaine into the US.
The convicted drug lord was handed the 37 year sentence after he refused to enter into a plea deal with US prosecutors.
Another designated drug kingpin Norris 'Deedo' Nembhard was given only nine years after he reportedly cut a deal with US prosecutors.
However, sources say Ramcharan is now negotiating to have his sentence reduced.
Professor of Law at the University of Miami, David Rowe told RJR News that its not unusual for convicts to enter into plea deals.
“Under rules 35 of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, you can reduce your sentence after you have been sentenced, so you have the opportunity both before and after sentencing to seek to obtain some sort of cooperation,” Mr. Rowe said.
US prosecutors had reported that Ramcharan led a sophisticated drug ring that smuggled as much as 15 metric tons of cocaine into Jamaica from Colombia between 1998 and 2004.
The cocaine was transported by speedboat and airplane to the Bahamas and ultimately to the US market.
The Colombian police, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, Royal Bahamian Police and US authorities were involved in the investigation of Ramcharan's organization.
He was arrested in Montego Bay, St. James in 2004 and extradited to the United States in 2007.
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