Reggae Exec Gets Pot Conviction

Horatio Hamilton, president/CEO of New York reggae production company L.O.Y. Inc., was found guilty of smuggling large quantities of marijuana into the city for several years.

A New York jury convicted Hamilton January 20th of conspiracy to smuggle marijuana. Hamilton was busted in 1999 with nearly two tons of the herb at Los Angeles International Airport.

Evidence presented at trial revealed Hamilton and his co-conspirators shipped more than one ton of marijuana from California to New York about once a week between 1997 and his 2005 arrest.

Hamilton’s lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman, told the jury his client left the drug-smuggling business after his 1999 arrest and “moved on to something more profitable and legal.”

However, the prosecution said evidence showed Hamilton jumped bail, changed his name and continued his drug-smuggling activities while working in the reggae music business.

Hamilton faces a minimum of 20 years in prison when he is sentenced April 24th, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney Michael Garcia.