THE STAR has received reports that alleged community leader and dancehall artiste 'Mikey Pelpa' is dead.

Information reaching THE STAR is that Pelpa, born Michael Augustus Lynch, was among a group of men who took a boat from The Bahamas and tried to enter the United States.

The men are said to have jumped from the boat in a bid to escape the US Coast Guard. Lynch is said to have got into difficulties and drowned.

Acting Deputy Commissioner of Police Glenmore Hinds who is in charge of Operations, told THE STAR that he too has heard of the incident but could not confirm.

As THE STAR tried to get confirmation from local law enforcement authorities, a report seen on MiamiHerald.comsaid, "A Bahamian man was charged with human smuggling after a failed trip Tuesday that left one person dead ... ."

The report continued, "A police helicopter spotted the 28-foot Intrepid boat in the water off Black Point Marina on Tuesday night and followed it. As authorities tried to stop the boat, those onboard jumped into the water and tried to swim. The body of a 28-year-old Jamaican man was found in the water about 30 feet from shore."

Reports said 60 pounds of marijuana were found on the boat. Two other Jamaicans, David Coore, 27 and Delroy Coombs, 45, were charged with illegal re-entry by authorities in Miami.

A senior investigator from the St Catherine south division said although Lynch was not wanted by the police, he was the alleged leader of the 'Lynch Mob' gang which operates out of Waterford in Portmore, St Catherine.

In July 2007, Lynch and popular deejay Vybz Kartel participated in a peace march in Waterford.

This was to signify that Kartel's Gaza family and his own 'Lynch Mob' were no longer at odds following reports that the two were locked in a deadly feud said to be sparked over turf.