Another Jamaican dancehall entertainer has been taken into custody by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), with reports confirming that this time it is Rygin King.
The deejay, whose real name is Matthew Smith, was reportedly detained on Monday. His name has since appeared in ICE’s online detainee system, confirming that he is currently being held. Up to press time, authorities have not disclosed the reason for his detention, and neither the artiste nor his representatives have issued a public statement.
Rygin King’s detention comes while he remains before the courts in New York in relation to a firearm case dating back to 2024. The entertainer, along with his wife and several others, was arrested following a traffic stop in Queens. The arrest stemmed from an alleged gun that was found when officers searched the vehicle. Reports say the weapon was loaded.
He was hit with multiple criminal charges, including possession of a loaded firearm in the second degree. Should he be convicted, he could face up to 17 years behind bars. However, he has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to the charges.
According to reports, the case has been progressing through the court system, with several hearings and procedural delays over the past months. Rygin King, in the company of his attorney Marc B. Layking, is to return to the Queens Supreme Criminal Court on March 27, when the matter will be presented to Judge Mary L. Bejarano. According to DancehallMag, Laykind said he believes the case will be dismissed and the charges dropped.
Before Rygin King’s legal issues with U.S. immigration authorities, fellow dancehall deejays Squash and Chronic Law were recently detained. Squash was held on gun-related charges last year and was later sentenced to more than 2 years in prison after pleading guilty. More recently, Chronic Law was booked into ICE’s Florida detention in January.
It remains unclear whether Rygin King’s detention is directly connected to his ongoing court case or relates to separate immigration concerns.