SINGJAY Anthony B (given name Keith Anthony Blair) was released from a Georgia jail yesterday, five days after he and nine members of his band and road crew were arrested in that state for ganja-related charges.

Ronnie Tomlinson, the artiste's publicist, told the Jamaica Observer that the 10 persons were pulled over by state police on January 27 for a window tint violation along Interstate 75 in Houston County. Five ounces of ganja and US$7,900 were found in the vehicle. All were subsequently charged for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute the weed. Anthony B was released after posting bond of $1,000 for each charge.

Others arrested and charged with similar offences are Lorne W Gordon, 45, of Pembroke Pines, Florida; Howard Smith, 36, of Orlando, Florida; Dave Richards, 31, of Miami, Florida; Duwayne R Hoilett, 46, of Vero Beach, Florida; Fitz Livermore, 50, of May Pen, Clarendon; Fabian Anthony Smith, 45, of a Jamaica address; Jason Anthony Garcia, 26, of Coral Springs, Florida; and Omar William Glenn, 26, of Carambola Circle, Florida.

Garcia was also charged with crossing the 'guard line' with contraband while Glenn was charged with a window tint violation.

The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws notes that Georgia has extremely tough penalties for marijuana. Possession of more than an ounce of the weed is considered a felony under state law

The singjay, who first made a name with fiery songs like Fire Pon Rome and Raid The Barn in the late 1990s, is in the middle of the United States leg of his Freedom Fighter Tour. He recently completed a month-long stint in California and was scheduled to perform in Washington DC, New York and Ohio last week.