Haughton’s TVJ Interview Now Cited by U.S. Prosecutors in Chronic Law Bail Fight
Jamaica Live News Desk– | Oct 3, 2026
KINGSTON, Jamaica — What began as a character-reference letter written by Jamaican economist and former Opposition People’s National Party Senator Professor Andre Haughton for dancehall artiste Chronic Law has taken a significant turn, with Haughton’s subsequent TVJ interview now being cited by U.S. federal prosecutors as part of their argument for keeping the entertainer behind bars.
Chronic Law, whose given name is Ackeme Jermane Campbell, remains in federal custody in the United States after pleading not guilty to a charge of being an alien in possession of a firearm.
The latest development follows Jamaica Live’s September 17 report revealing that Haughton had provided a character reference for Campbell while the artiste was involved in U.S. immigration proceedings. The letter, dated January 20, 2026, was written on The University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Department of Economics letterhead.
The original character reference
Haughton addressed the January letter to an immigration judge while Campbell was being held in U.S. immigration custody.
In the letter, Haughton identified himself by his academic and political credentials, including his position as a UWI professor, his role at the time as Member of Parliament caretaker for St James West Central and his previous service as a senator.
Haughton presented Chronic Law as a recognised Jamaican cultural figure and described him as a disciplined individual and a positive influence, particularly among disadvantaged young Jamaicans. He also said, based on his observation and knowledge, that Campbell had demonstrated maturity and responsibility towards his family and community.
The letter was originally prepared for Campbell’s immigration proceedings, rather than the subsequent federal firearm prosecution. However, Chronic Law’s legal team later reused Haughton’s character reference as part of its renewed effort to secure his release on bail in the criminal case.
Questions raised over UWI letterhead
After the existence of the letter became public, questions were raised in Jamaica over Haughton’s use of official UWI Department of Economics letterhead.
The university subsequently addressed that issue.
UWI Mona Campus Registrar Dr Donovan Stanberry said Haughton was within his rights as a professor to use the university’s letterhead when writing the character reference and did not require the institution’s permission. Stanberry also rejected suggestions that the episode had brought the university into disrepute.
That response largely addressed the institutional question surrounding the letterhead.
But another question soon became considerably more important: How well did Haughton actually know Chronic Law?
The TVJ interview
Following publication of the character reference, Haughton was interviewed by Television Jamaica (TVJ) about his decision to support the entertainer.
During that interview, Haughton acknowledged that he did not personally know Chronic Law well.
TVJ News — September 17, 2026
“Character Reference Given, Professor Helps in Chronic Law Case | TVJ News”
Watch the TVJ News report/interview here
This is the report containing Professor Andre Haughton’s interview, where he says:
“I don’t know him that well.”
He then explains that he knows Chronic Law primarily through his music and associates, rather than through a close personal relationship.
The clip aired September 17, 2026, which is particularly important because this is the interview U.S. prosecutors are now reportedly pointing to in challenging the character reference used in Chronic Law’s bail application.
That admission attracted attention because of the favourable character assessment contained in the letter.
Haughton explained his decision in the context of his role as an educator and his knowledge of the entertainer through his music and associates, rather than presenting himself as someone who maintained a close personal relationship with Campbell.
At the time, the TVJ interview appeared to be Haughton’s public explanation of why he had written the reference.
It has now become part of the federal bail dispute.
U.S. prosecutors cite the TVJ interview
According to Nationwide News, federal prosecutor Shiante McMahon has now specifically cited the TVJ report in a new filing opposing Chronic Law’s renewed application for bail.
The filing lists five reasons why prosecutors believe Campbell should remain detained.
Haughton’s TVJ interview was cited as reason number two.
The prosecution argues that Haughton’s public acknowledgement that he did not personally know Chronic Law well raises questions about the weight that should be attached to the favourable character reference submitted by the defence.
McMahon reportedly argued that the entertainer appears to be “padding” his character references.
Prosecutors further contend that even if the character reference is accepted as genuine, it does not address what they consider the central reasons for Campbell’s continued detention — their assertions that he presents a flight risk and a danger to the community.
The prosecution’s fifth argument also challenges representations concerning Chronic Law’s music. According to Nationwide, prosecutors say his attorneys provided no evidence supporting claims that his songs, lyrics or videos are uplifting or peaceful.
Prosecutors have asked the court to deny the renewed bail application or, alternatively, conduct another hearing where oral arguments can be presented before a decision is reached.
No decision has yet been made on the renewed bail request.
How the federal firearms case began
The criminal case stems from an incident in Turner County, Georgia, on November 15, 2025.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Georgia, Campbell was driving when deputies attempted to stop him. Federal authorities allege that he fled and reached speeds exceeding 120 miles per hour.
Authorities say that after the pursuit ended, officers recovered multiple firearms and ammunition from the vehicle.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the weapons allegedly included semiautomatic pistols, a semiautomatic rifle and a firearm that had been reported stolen in Miami. Authorities reported recovering a total of 92 rounds of ammunition.
Federal prosecutors allege that Campbell subsequently admitted the firearms belonged to him and that he had not obtained the waiver required to possess firearms while in the United States under his O-1B non-immigrant visa.
The U.S. government has also alleged that Campbell has a criminal-gang affiliation and has cited that allegation, the firearms and its assessment that he presents a flight risk in arguing for his continued detention. These remain prosecution allegations and have not been established by a conviction.
Campbell was arrested in Miami on July 5, 2026. The federal complaint had been filed on July 1 and was publicly unsealed on July 14. He was initially detained without bond and subsequently transferred to Georgia.
He later pleaded not guilty to the federal firearm charge and was ordered to remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending trial.
If convicted of the charge announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Campbell faces a maximum sentence of 15 years in federal prison, followed by up to three years of supervised release and a possible US$250,000 fine.
Trial moved to January
There has also been another development in the case.
On September 29, U.S. District Judge W. Louis Sands granted a motion to continue the trial, moving the proceedings from the October term to the January 2027 term of the federal court’s Albany Division.
The bail question, however, remains unresolved.
The significance of Haughton’s TVJ interview is therefore no longer confined to the public controversy in Jamaica surrounding his decision to write the character reference.
His own televised explanation of his relationship with Chronic Law has now entered the U.S. federal court proceedings and is being relied upon by prosecutors as part of their case against releasing the entertainer before trial.
Chronic Law has pleaded not guilty. The allegations against him have not been proven at trial, and he is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
Following the latest development in the Chronic Law case, Jamaica Live reached out publicly to Professor Andre Haughton for a response.
In a comment posted to Haughton’s verified Instagram account, Jamaica Live asked: “@drandrehaughton, any response on the Chronic Law Saga?”
Haughton responded directly:
“I prefer to discuss ideas to move Jamaica and the Caribbean economy forward… you make your living from that, you go discuss that…”
Haughton did not address the substance of the prosecutors’ arguments or offer any further explanation regarding his character reference in his response to Jamaica Live.
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