Dancehall artiste Andrae Maurice Whittaker, better known as Squash, will not be taking his chances before a jury in the United States after agreeing to a plea deal with federal prosecutors.
The entertainer was due to face trial on September 2 on charges of being an alien in possession of a firearm and unlawful possession of a machine gun. However, his attorneys confirmed this week that Squash intends to enter a guilty plea on September 3, effectively cancelling the jury trial.
The case stems from a February traffic stop that reportedly led officers to discover two Glock pistols and multiple ammunition magazines in the vehicle occupied by the entertainer and an acquaintance. The FEDs made it clear that they have been monitoring the St James native for some time and shared that they believe he is the leader of a transnational criminal organisation.
Squash’s legal team had been pushing back, but a few days ago, U.S. prosecutors heated things up by seeking to introduce new evidence to strengthen their case. The additional material included video and text messages obtained from his phone, and even evidence drawn from his music. The defence responded by filing a motion to suppress the evidence on the basis of an illegal search.
A court ruling on those evidentiary issues was expected Tuesday, but that hearing was cancelled after both sides confirmed that Squash would change his plea.
Squash had the option of pleading guilty by August 26 or proceeding to trial, where he faced up to 10 years behind bars on each count. While the details of his plea agreement have not been disclosed, the move could reduce the risk of a lengthy sentence, which would have been harsher had he been convicted at trial.
This latest legal battle is not Squash’s first in the U.S. The previous incident, which involved the seizure of two firearms during a 2023 traffic stop, still leaves him facing deportation proceedings. According to federal authorities, Squash entered the U.S. illegally in 2021, and in 2023, he was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement following the traffic stop.