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Orlando music venue owner Uncle Lou detained by ICE after alcohol licensing raid

May 9, 2026 · Orlando, FL, Jamaica

Orlando music venue owner Uncle Lou detained by ICE after alcohol licensing raid

Cleon 'Uncle Lou' Williams, 62, a Jamaican-born owner of Uncle Lou's Entertainment Hall in Orlando's Mills 50 district, was detained by ICE on May 9-10, 2026, following his arrest during a raid by the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco investigating alcohol licensing violations at his venue. ICE placed an immigration detainer on Williams due to an expired visa, and he was booked into Orange County Corrections Facility with no criminal charges filed. Williams has operated the prominent music venue since 2005 and is widely recognized in Orlando's music community for supporting emerging artists, offering free performance opportunities to hundreds of local indie bands over two decades. Community members including U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost and State Rep. Anna Eskamani expressed concern about his detention, with Frost visiting him in jail. Friends described Williams as 'a pure light and joy' and a pillar of the community, and fundraisers raised over $28,000 for his legal representation.

Timeline

May 11, 2026U.S. Rep. Maxwell Frost visited Williams in jail; community fundraisers raised over $28,000 for his legal representation
May 10, 2026Williams booked into Orange County Corrections Facility under ICE immigration hold with no criminal charges filed
May 9, 2026Cleon Williams arrested during joint raid by Orlando Police and Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco investigating alcohol licensing violations at Uncle Lou's Entertainment Hall; ICE placed immigration detainer on Williams due to expired visa

Sources

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