YNW Melly’s Case Implodes: Co-Defendant YNW Bortlen Takes Plea Deal and Flips, While Melly Faces New Witness Tampering Charges and Sues Jail for ‘Cruel Treatment’

Rapper YNW Melly is currently awaiting a retrial for the murder of two childhood friends, a case that is not set to begin until 2027. However, the legal drama surrounding the case has escalated dramatically with a major development involving his co-defendant, YNW Bortlen, and new, serious allegations leveled directly against Melly.

The Bortlen Flip: Melly’s Co-Defendant Cuts a Deal

Melly’s co-defendant, YNW Bortlen, accepted a plea deal widely called the “greatest plea deal of all time.” Facing five life sentences, Bortlen instead received a 10-year sentence and will only need to serve approximately six more years due to time already served.

Legal experts, including Lil Wayne and Kodak Black’s attorney Bradford Cohen, argue this is a “gunner plea” that requires Bortlen to provide a “factual basis” for the crime of accessory after the fact. This means Bortlen must acknowledge that the murder took place and that he assisted someone in covering it up, effectively confirming the murder and leaving Melly as the last remaining suspect. Cohen, along with rapper 6ix9ine, anticipates that Bortlen will now “flip” and testify against Melly. During Bortlen’s own interrogation, when asked if he knew who committed the act, he refused to give a verbal answer, instead shaking his head “no,” an action police viewed as a clear indicator of knowledge but an unwillingness to become involved.

New Witness Tampering Charges and Evidence

While seeking release, Melly and his legal team have been hit with six new charges, including witness tampering, which carries a potential life sentence.

Ex-Girlfriend’s Arrest: Melly’s ex-girlfriend, Mariah Hamilton, was arrested by US Border Patrol agents after being ordered to testify in the trial. She had previously been given a deal for freedom in exchange for her testimony.
Coded Communication: Prosecutors accuse Melly of tampering with a witness by passing notes to people who would then relay messages using coded words like “Rihanna” and “ASAP Rocky’s baby mom.”
Jury Tampering Evidence: During a raid of Bortlen’s home, investigators found notes detailing the names, appearance, and seating positions of jurors, suggesting an attempt at jury tampering.

Melly Sues Jail for ‘Cruel Treatment’

Melly’s lawyers have been pushing for his release, arguing he is being held in inhumane conditions while awaiting his retrial. Melly himself has sued the Broward Sheriff’s Office, alleging “cruel treatment,” including:

Living in a cold cell with barely edible food.
Having no human contact and being denied visitation with family for three years.
His mail being held and not delivered to him.

Melly’s mother has corroborated these claims, stating her son is not being treated like a human being, despite not being convicted of any crime.

The Chilling Evidence Against Melly

The prosecution is gathering evidence to be used in the retrial, which is set to begin in 2027:

“I Did That” Message: Prosecutors claim to have messages from Melly admitting to the crime. When asked if he was okay on a social media account, Melly allegedly responded, “I did that,” followed by a smiley face emoji.
Seat Location: Court documents and testimony from the victim’s mother confirm the shots that killed the two men originated from the back left seat of the car—the exact position where Melly was sitting.
Post-Crime Behavior: Video footage shows Melly and Bortlen dancing happily only five hours after the alleged crime.
Courtroom Dispute: Melly publicly broke ranks with his legal team, yelling at them to withdraw an objection over the prosecution’s attempt to use a Facebook post of him with Young Thug. Melly reportedly insisted, “I don’t care, I’m not in the team,” referring to the post linking him to the Red Street team.

With Bortlen’s plea deal and cooperation expected,the prosecution’s case against YNW Melly appears to be tightening significantly.