Squash pleads guilty to gun charge - Artiste receives 27-month sentence in US federal court

Dancehall artiste Squash was yesterday sentenced to two years and three months in a Miami federal court after he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm while living in the United States of America (USA) illegally.

Squash, given name Andrae Whittaker, was arrested on February 24 during a police stop in Miami, where officers reportedly recovered a firearm from the vehicle in which he was travelling. The police say the firearm was modified with a switch Jamaicans refer to as a 'chip glock'. The deejay was initially locked up at the Miami-Dade County Sheriff's Office. Squash was granted US$3,000 bail but was later handed over to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency at the Federal Detention Centre in Miami. He was already facing immigration issues as he did not have legal status in the country and was awaiting an immigration hearing. The entertainer entered the USA in 2019 and never returned to Jamaica. He eventually entered a plea agreement, admitting to the firearm offence as an undocumented immigrant.

In April, the entertainer pleaded not guilty to the charges of illegal possession of a modified firearm and carrying a concealed weapon without a permit. The deejay also requested a jury trial. During the proceedings, Squash, who hails from Salt Spring, St James, was labelled as the leader of an organised criminal gang, claims that his attorneys strongly rejected. He is expected to face immigration action after completing his time.

Locally, Squash was detained for months during a state of public emergency. His management team said that he was incorrectly labelled as the leader of the infamous G City gang in Montego Bay. However, he was released without charge. The entertainer is known for releases such as Big Breeze, Shub Out, Ooh La La La, Beat Dem Bad, Lavish and Trending.