The legal saga surrounding YNW Melly, born Jamell Demons, and the double murder charges he faces, continues to unfurl with dramatic twists, placing friendships and loyalties under an unprecedented spotlight. In a recent deposition, rapper Fredo Bang, a close friend of Melly’s, became a central figure, his repeated invocation of the Fifth Amendment creating a seismic ripple effect throughout the ongoing criminal and civil proceedings. This wasn’t merely a friend offering support; it was a sworn testimony under oath, revealing a web of contradictions, alleged cover-ups, and a stark refusal to answer critical questions that could ultimately determine Melly’s fate and the truth behind the shocking deaths of YNW associates Anthony “YNW Sackchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr.

The timeline leading to Fredo Bang’s contentious deposition is critical. In the early morning hours of October 26, 2018, just minutes after the tragic deaths of Sackchaser and Juvy, Melly reportedly sent a panicked text message to Fredo Bang, stating, “Brazy is messed up right now.” This was followed by an eight-minute phone call between the two, a conversation Fredo later claimed he couldn’t even remember. Moments later, Melly dropped a location pin for Fredo to pick him up, with Fredo allegedly replying, “I’m on my way. I got you.” Prosecutors now strongly contend that this exchange points directly to Fredo Bang being the individual who picked up Melly immediately following the tragedy. And it is from this precise point that the narrative descends into a maelstrom of legal maneuvering and perplexing silences.

When Fredo Bang was questioned under oath, his refusal to provide straightforward answers immediately raised eyebrows. This was not a minor inquiry; Melly is facing a staggering $50 million civil lawsuit in addition to the criminal charges, and here was his close friend, potentially a key witness to the immediate aftermath, choosing to plead the Fifth Amendment instead of offering clarity. That silence, in the chilling context of a double murder, spoke volumes, suggesting a desperate attempt to protect himself, or perhaps, something far more explosive.

During the deposition, lawyers pressed Fredo on whether he recalled meeting with the Florida state prosecutor in the case. He acknowledged, “Yes.” The subsequent question was even more potent: “Do you recall if she offered you immunity, meaning if you talked, you wouldn’t be prosecuted?” Immediately, Fredo’s legal counsel interjected, instructing him to plead the Fifth. The family’s attorney, tenacious, pushed again, clarifying, “That wasn’t the question. The question was, were you offered immunity?” Fredo’s hesitant response: “I think I was. I can’t really recall.” This moment was a significant revelation, as prosecutors had allegedly offered him immunity to testify against Melly in the criminal case, a fact that underscores the immense pressure being applied behind the scenes and the depth of Fredo’s potential knowledge. His decision to remain silent in the face of such a critical offer could dramatically alter the landscape of both cases.

The questioning then took a sharp turn, directly probing Fredo Bang’s own criminal history. He was asked, “Have you ever been convicted of a crime?” Before he could answer, his lawyers again invoked the Fifth Amendment. This question, seemingly unrelated to the immediate facts of the case, was vital for establishing witness credibility. As the family’s lawyer argued, a witness’s criminal history is routinely used to challenge credibility in trial. Fredo’s lawyers attempted to push back, claiming such information wouldn’t be allowed before a jury. However, the family’s attorney insisted it absolutely would, even hinting at a felony on Fredo’s record. The tension in the room ratcheted up further as they delved deeper, highlighting Fredo’s 2016 arrest, serious charges that led to him serving approximately two years before being released on parole. He admitted to pleading guilty, serving his time, and returning home on parole. This was no small revelation; it painted a picture of a witness with a history of legal entanglements, further impacting his credibility.

The interrogation then shifted to his relationship with YNW Melly. Fredo explained their connection began through music, with Melly initially seeking him as a manager and eventually collaborating on a feature track. However, the deposition became even more explosive when lawyers brought up Fredo’s past interviews on VladTV, notorious within hip-hop culture for clips that frequently resurface in court. Fredo was grilled on his statements, particularly his mention of “G Money” as “one of my best friends who passed away.” This moment revealed the intricate ties between Fredo’s past, his music, and the current case, explaining why prosecutors were pressing him so relentlessly.

When questions about G Money’s death arose, the atmosphere in the room grew heavy. Fredo was asked, “How’d he die?” His answer, “Some people say he was shot, but I don’t know. I didn’t see it,” stunned the room. The disbelief was palpable—how could he not know the precise details of his own best friend’s passing? When pressed further on whether anyone was arrested, Fredo replied, “No.” Then came the emotionally charged question: “How mad are you over that situation?” Fredo admitted, “I’m real mad.” Yet, when asked if the killer’s arrest would bring him solace, Fredo stood firm: “No, I don’t wish jail on nobody.” Even when challenged about applying this sentiment to the person responsible for his best friend’s death, Fredo doubled down, explaining, “Yeah, because I’ve been to jail. I know how it feels. You’re treated like an animal. I don’t wish that on anybody.” This deeply personal perspective, shaped by his own incarceration, provided a rare glimpse into his mindset.

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Lawyers then sought to chip away at Fredo’s credibility, cornering him into admitting he had lied about moving to Miami in a past interview. He clarified that, at the time, he couldn’t legally relocate due to parole, only visiting on travel passes. While he confirmed his parole was now over, the attorneys used this inconsistency to paint him as unreliable. A personal attack followed: “Do you have anger issues?” Fredo shot back, “Nah.” When confronted with an earlier interview where he suggested otherwise, he responded, “Nah, I’ve been working on it. I’m in a good place now.”

The questioning returned to his initial connection with Melly and his acquaintance with other YNW crew members. Fredo’s answers about Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. and Anthony “YNW Sackchaser” Williams were vague, claiming he “probably met him once or twice.” He admitted knowing Borland “a couple times” but nothing concrete. The lawyers then shifted to the music business, asking about his work with “Track the Music Manager” and whether he and Melly were signed to the same label. Fredo’s cautious responses, like “I’m not really sure, I’ve never seen his paperwork,” highlighted his reluctance to commit to any statement that could be used against him later.

Tensions escalated further when an old interview surfaced where Fredo allegedly said “jail is worse than dying.” He defended this as “my opinion.” The lawyers also probed about a “courtroom phobia,” which Fredo denied recalling. Frustration began to show as Fredo questioned why his VladTV interviews were repeatedly brought up, to which the attorney clarified his role was to be the voice for Christopher Thomas Jr., and the courtroom was the only place to do that. Fredo’s admission that “The only time people are happy in jail is when they sleep” sent shockwaves, illustrating the profound impact his past experiences behind bars had on his perspective.

The relationship with Jamell “YNW Melly” Demons was then directly addressed. When asked if Melly was one of his best friends, Fredo didn’t hesitate: “Yeah, I got love for him.” It was then that lawyers pulled out more VladTV footage, leading to a significant admission from Fredo: “I did lie right there.” He confessed that in a past interview, he hadn’t told the full truth, explaining it was “right before the passing of his friends. My video dropped after they died, and they were actually in the video. So yeah, that was a lie. I don’t even know how I said that.” When asked who was in the video, Fredo plainly stated, “Sack and Juvie. They’re in the ‘Kill Ya’ music video just standing in the background.” This admission provided prosecutors with a direct blow to his credibility.

The interrogation continued with clips from No Jumper interviews, further digging into Fredo’s past words and actions. A poignant question arose: “Do you still carry around G Money’s ID?” Fredo’s simple reply, “Sentimental reasons,” brought a momentary pause, reminding everyone of the personal loss tied to this case. Questions then turned to his property in Miami and whether he owned a house there when Juvy was killed. Fredo’s memory became hazy, claiming he didn’t recall and that he didn’t own a house in 2018.

Then came the bombshell question that cut straight to the heart of the matter: “What do you know about whether Jamal Demons killed his friend Christopher Thomas Jr.?” Before Fredo could fully articulate a response, his lawyer immediately cut in: “I’m going to instruct my client to assert his Fifth Amendment right.” What was particularly striking was that Fredo had uttered a quick “Nah” before his attorney’s intervention. This near-slip, followed by a formal invocation of the Fifth, sent a palpable ripple through the room, raising intense questions about what he almost said versus what he legally chose to conceal.

Lawyers pressed on, highlighting Fredo’s appearance in “Free Melly” shirts and claims of being in the studio with Melly “thousands of times.” Fredo quickly backtracked on the latter, admitting he “was probably lying” and it “wasn’t that” many times. This exchange painted a picture of a witness caught between loyalty to a friend, the immense pressure of the courtroom, and the weight of his own past statements.

The focus then returned to the “Free Melly” shirt. “Do you believe what your shirt says, that Melly should be free?” Fredo carefully responded, “I don’t want to jail nobody, but yeah.” Then came the pivotal question: “So you weren’t on the scene when the shooting happened, correct?” Before Fredo could explain, his lawyers immediately jumped in, asserting the Fifth Amendment. This refusal, even to answer a simple yes or no about his presence at the scene, shocked the room. The attorney pressing him, Mr. Phillips, explained the gravity of this in a civil case: a jury is allowed to make a “negative inference” when someone takes the Fifth, meaning they can assume the silence is hiding something damaging. Fredo’s silence in that moment held the potential to significantly shift the entire case.

Phillips rephrased the question, attempting to clarify if Fredo was “on the scene when any shots were fired,” but Fredo’s lawyer again shut it down. The questioning moved to whether he was paid to wear the “Free Melly” shirt (he wasn’t) and past VladTV clips where Fredo admitted speaking with Melly after his arrest. Under oath, Fredo clarified these were “video visitation” calls, as Melly hadn’t had “phone privileges in a long time.” Every invocation of the Fifth only deepened speculation about what Fredo truly knows and his proximity to Melly during the critical hours of the case.

The lawyers pressed on, asking about Melly’s cell phone contact while locked up, which Fredo denied, stating he wouldn’t “take a call off a contraband phone.” They played VladTV clips, questioning edits (Fredo said none). They asked about an unreleased track with YNW Melly and King Von, which Fredo confirmed existed and would “go crazy over if it ever dropped.” Fredo revealed he was subpoenaed for Melly’s first trial but never testified because “the state never re-subpoenaed him.”

Then came the question that turned heads: “So you don’t know whether a bunch of people met at your house in the early morning hours after a murder?” His lawyer immediately asserted the Fifth. The implication was clear: people might have gathered at his home right after the crime, and he claimed ignorance. Finally, the attorney circled back to his connection with Melly: “Do you know enough about the fact you were texting with the person charged with double murder within minutes or hours after the crime?” Again, silence and legal walls.

The pressure mounted as the lawyer hammered Fredo on his contradictions: “Why do you have two different answers? Why do you say you know nothing, but you seem to have information just minutes or hours after it happened?” His attorneys again asserted his Fifth Amendment rights. They played his VladTV interview where Fredo claimed to know nothing about the night of October 25th/26th. Under oath, Fredo nearly slipped, starting with “I told…” before his lawyer shut him down. When asked why he was laughing in the VladTV clip, Fredo attributed it to “The way Vlad asked the question, it was kind of funny.” He also admitted he never corrected Vlad when the interviewer said people went to his house after the murder.

The deposition took a wild turn, touching on a brief meeting with Kanye West and Melly, and whether Fredo discussed YNW business disputes or Melly’s alleged “split personalities” (Fredo clarified he was referring to Melly’s style, not mental health). They pressed on “Melvin”—the alleged alter ego—and Melly’s lyrics about “feds probably got my digits.” Fredo explained this as a general caution, not an admission of wiretaps.

The lawyers then pointed out that in past interviews, Fredo had insisted he knew nothing and his name should be kept out of it. Under oath, Fredo admitted, “Yeah, I probably told Vlad that, and that’s true.” But before he could expand, his lawyer cut in, asserting the Fifth. The courtroom tension escalated as they asked if glorifying violence in music was tied to Melly’s case. Four separate times, Fredo pled the Fifth. When asked if “Free my Melvin” in a lyric referred to Melly, his lawyer again instructed silence. Fredo firmly denied gang affiliation. Visuals in his music videos, specifically a repeated red bandana, were brought up, which Fredo clarified was “not mine.”

The focus shifted back to the morning of October 26th. Prosecutors pressed Fredo on whether Melly had been at his house and if he gave him clothes to change into. Fredo initially claimed he didn’t recall, but the moment clothes were mentioned, his lawyers immediately asserted his rights. Digital evidence showed Melly’s phone connected to Fredo’s Wi-Fi twice that morning. Fredo again stayed silent under the Fifth. A list of names—Mariah Hamilton, Felicia Holmes, Jimmy King, Adrien Davis, Dantavius Withers, Trayvon Glass—was presented, to which Fredo consistently responded, “Don’t know who that is.” He admitted knowing Borland but couldn’t recall if he came by. When Melly’s presence at his house was directly questioned, his lawyers again asserted his rights.

The final, piercing question cut deep: “Why did all these people, including some you claim you don’t even know, end up at your house on October 26th, 2018? Why was your Wi-Fi being accessed just hours after a homicide?” Once again, Fredo pled the Fifth. That silence spoke volumes, leaving everyone to wonder what truly transpired inside that house and why so many loose ends kept pointing back to him.

On page 38 of his statement with prosecutor Christine Bradley, Fredo was directly asked, “Did Jamal Demons ever give you a gun?” Fredo answered, “No.” The follow-up: “Did he ever ask you to give him one?” Fredo claimed he didn’t recall, but his lawyer again intervened. The interrogation then moved to the critical eight-minute phone call at 4:04 AM on October 26th, when Melly was allegedly in the woods, seeking help. Fredo admitted the call happened but claimed he didn’t recall what they discussed. When asked if he saw Melly on FaceTime when he picked him up, Fredo couldn’t remember. And when pressed on whether he admitted picking him up, his attorney cut in.

Earlier testimony revealed Fredo was “under the impression that Melly had been attacked,” explaining, “I’ve been through criminal situations, so I don’t like getting in people’s business. I thought he was attacked.” He attributed this conclusion to “Social media”—an explanation that didn’t sit right, as evidence suggested Fredo was directly involved in helping Melly. Jameson Francois even told police Fredo was at the house on October 26th, “right in the middle of it all.”

The final part of Fredo’s deposition honed in on the most intense questions. Phone records showed a text message and a pin drop from Melly at 4:45 AM, and minutes later, at 4:49 AM, Melly allegedly sent his location, with Fredo replying, “I’m on the way. I got you.” Each time, his lawyer kept him silent. Questions about using the term “blood” with Melly and whether Melly sent a message saying “brazy as right now blood” were met with silence under the Fifth. The biggest accusations were reserved for last: “Isn’t it true you drove Jamal Demons known as YNW Melly to your house in the early hours of October 26th, 2018?” His lawyer stepped in. “Did Melly’s friends and even his mother come to your house to discuss the shootings? Did you all talk about going to a field to find a firearm? Did you drive your car there? Did you help dispose of a weapon?” Each time, Fredo asserted his rights. Even when asked about clothes being changed, people gathering at his house, or whether he contacted police when he first heard about the shooting, his response never changed: silence, assertion after assertion.

This unwavering refusal to speak only deepened the mystery surrounding what truly transpired in those early morning hours. Prosecutors clearly had records, questions, and witness claims, but Fredo Bang offered no new answers. His silence leaves everyone to wonder what he’s determined not to let slip, and why so many loose ends keep pointing back to him. The trial of YNW Melly, a case already fraught with complexities, now grapples with the profound implications of a close friend’s silence, a silence that speaks louder than any words.