Dancehall Artist Squash Back In ICE Custody After Firearm Arrest In Florida

Dancehall star Squash is back in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), DancehallMag has confirmed.

The 33-year-old entertainer, whose real name is Andrae Maurice Whittaker, is being held at the Krome North Service Processing Center in Miami as of March 5. This development follows his February 24 arrest in Miami on charges of firearm possession and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

Squash, who lacks legal status in the United States, was already facing immigration proceedings stemming from his initial ICE detention in May 2023 for overstaying his work visa.

The artist’s legal troubles in the U.S. appear to be worsening. On Tuesday, Nationwide Radio reported that Squash, a passenger in a gray Mercedes-Benz driven by 24-year-old Zidanne George Prescott, was stopped for a traffic violation around 10:58 p.m. on the 100 Block of 41st Street. Officers observed the artist reaching for his waistband and placing a black object in the glove compartment. Prescott, found to be driving with a suspended license, denied that there were weapons in the car but consented to a search.

Police recovered a modified Glock 19 pistol, known as a “chip Glock,” capable of automatic fire, from the glove compartment. The weapon fit a holster found on Squash’s waist. A further search uncovered a Glock 35 .40 caliber pistol with an extended magazine under the driver’s seat, along with three loaded magazines in the car.

Both men were arrested, and authorities later revealed that Squash had been observed by an FBI agent earlier that day receiving the Glock 19 from an individual under FBI surveillance.

Although Squash posted bail totaling $3,000, he was handed over to ICE. He is scheduled to return to court on March 26 to face the firearm charges.

Squash’s legal troubles date back to 2018 when he was detained in Jamaica under a State Of Emergency (SOE) sweep in St. James due to increased crime and violence in the parish.  He spent five months in custody without charge, before being released in January 2019, one day before the SOE was due to expire.

In September 2019, he left Jamaica and performed in the United States for the first time, but has not returned to the island since. Speaking with Onstage host Winford Williams, during a July 2022 interview in Florida, Squash expressed love for his homeland but cited discomfort with the “system” and personal conflicts as reasons for his departure.

“Mi cyah tek the hold down in Jamaica and corruption in my little circle, Jamaica small bad enuh, the world big and Jamaica have too much corruption in one little environment and mi cyah deal wid it,” he told Williams. “You see me now, me is not a violent man, people out there might see 6ixx boss and have me as violent, but I am a jovial person, me loving and kind, fun, mi like happiness, me nuh like sadness.”

In November 2022, an associate of Squash, Jahreme ‘JMan’ Shelton, was slapped with two charges of first-degree murder in Florida, which US investigators connected to an ongoing gang war that originated in St James, Jamaica. According to Shelton’s arrest affidavit, an anonymous tip suggested that men with the aliases “Squashman,” “J-Man,” and “Freeman,” all affiliated with the G City gang, were involved in the killings.

According to a May 2022 Jamaica Gleaner article, Shelton had survived a drive-by shooting in Jamaica during a birthday party on Marl Road. The attack claimed three lives, including Shelton’s girlfriend, Toniann Reid, also known as “Too Fly.”

A month later, Dancehall producer Linval Thompson Jr., also known as Shab Don, and another man were charged in connection with the drive-by shooting. Shab Don remains in custody pending trial.

Meanwhile, Squash has repeatedly denied any involvement in gang activity.

In October 2022, he took to Instagram, saying, “Uno low off ah mi name bad man. Uno just leave mi alone bredda, make man live, low man make man survive bredda. Stop mix up man in ah no violence and crime business bredda. Music man ah do ova yah suh bredda, strictly music man do ova yah suh band man!”

His most popular songs include Oh Lala La, Rate Who Rate You, Beat Dem Bad with Vybz Kartel, Peace Of Mind, Trending, Ambala, Scotch & Soda, and Still A Roam.