The family of dancehall artist Deva Bratt, born Sheldon Smith, has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover his legal expenses following a recent detention by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
According to the campaign, Deva Bratt was “wrongfully arrested and taken into custody” after a traffic stop where he was reportedly pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt. The situation escalated, and the artist was eventually detained by immigration officers. The incident was captured on video and shared by entertainment outlet Dancehall Bomb, showing a tense exchange between the artist and law enforcement.
“Come on bro, you can’t let your ego get to you bro, you gotta calm down,” Deva Bratt can be heard saying in the video. An officer replied, “We have the exact right to,” prompting Deva to respond, “You weren’t in exact right because I was in my yard.”
The GoFundMe campaign, titled “Justice for Sheldon Smith (Deva Bratt),” states that the total legal fees are estimated at $8,500 to retain an experienced attorney and make a bond application, but the family is seeking to raise $4,500.
“This heartbreaking situation has devastated our family, and we are determined to fight for Sheldon’s freedom and clear his name,” the family wrote. “We are humbly asking for your support to help us raise these critical funds. Every dollar makes a difference in bringing Sheldon home and keeping our family together.”
As of now, the artist is reportedly no longer in ICE custody, but his family continues to rally support online as his legal proceedings unfold.
