Witness tampering charges against Florida rapper YNW Melly were dropped Jan. 20, a day before jury selection was scheduled to begin in the case on Jan. 21.
Jamell Maurice Demons, 26, who is from Gifford, Florida and attended nearby Vero Beach High School, still faces first-degree murder charges in connection to the Oct. 26, 2018, shooting of childhood friends and YNW collective members Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr.
The now-dropped charges involved allegations that the Gifford rapper tried to dissuade a witness from testifying at his 2023 double-murder trial, which ended in mistrial when the jury could not reach a verdict, according to Rolling Stone.
Cortlen “YNW Bortlen” Henry, also accused in the shooting, accepted a plea deal early September 2025. He pleaded no contest to accessory charges and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in Florida, avoiding a first-degree murder trial.
Florida prosecutors in Broward County dismissed four charges against Demons Jan. 20, including witness tampering, directing the activities of a criminal gang, criminal solicitation to commit murder and conspiracy to tamper with a witness on a capital case, according to Rolling Stone.
Assistant State Attorney Alixandra Buckelew announced the charges getting dropped in court Tuesday morning during a status conference, the Sun Sentinel reported.
Demons awaits his first-degree murder retrial. Here’s who the Gifford rapper is, when his retrial is and what possible sentence he faces.
Who is YNW Melly?
Demons is a rapper known as “YNW Melly,” from Gifford, a community just outside Vero Beach city limits in Indian River County, Florida. He was a part of a hip-hop collective with childhood friends Cortlen “YNW Bortlen” Henry, Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr.
Demons and Henry, 26, were charged in relation to the Oct. 26, 2018, shooting deaths of Williams, of Fort Pierce, and Thomas, of Gifford, initially entering not-guilty pleas. In September 2025, Henry accepted a plea deal and entered the Florida prison system, avoiding trial.
“YNW Melly” has collaborated with controversial rapper Ye, formerly Kanye West, as well as late rapper Juice WRLD, Lil Uzi Vert, Kodak Black, and Lil Baby.
Jamell Demons, better known as rapper YNW Melly, speaks with one of his attorneys during a hearing before his trial at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Demons is accused of killing two fellow rappers and conspiring to make it look like a drive-by shooting in October 2018.
How old is YNW Melly?
Jamell Maurice Demons, known as rapper “YNW Melly,” was born May 1, 1999 in Gifford, Florida. He is 26 years old.
When is YNW Melly murder retrial date?
Witness tampering charges against YNW Melly were dropped Jan. 20, just before that trial’s start date. However, the rapper still faces double-murder charges with a retrial scheduled in January 2027.
Demons’ first July 2023 trial ended in a mistrial after a hung jury could not come to a unanimous verdict after three days of deliberation.
What sentence is YNW Melly facing?
YNW Melly is accused of first-degree murder, which is punishable by a life sentence without parole or death in Florida.
Prosecutors filed notice April 2019 of their intent to seek the death penalty in the double-murder case against the rap artist, TCPalm previously reported.
Demons again faces a possible death sentence if he’s convicted at the retrial now scheduled to begin Jan. 6, 2027.
Jamell Demons, better known as rapper YNW Melly, listens to his attorneys during a hearing update at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 9, 2025.
When will YNW Melly get out of jail?
He has been in the Broward County Jail since his arrest in February 2019 in Miramar, and will remain in custody until his January 2027 retrial, after a judge denied his pre-trial release request in May 2025.
Contributing: Melissa E. Holsman, Gianna Montesano and Corey Arwood, TCPalm / Treasure Coast Newspapers
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: YNW Melly awaits 2027 murder trial, witness tampering charges drop