YNW Bortlen Pleads No Contest, Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison

Lead Cortlen Henry, known as YNW Bortlen, pleaded no contest today in Broward County to accessory after the fact in the 2018 double homicide of YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy, receiving a 10-year prison term plus six years’ probation.

Nut Graf The plea agreement spares Henry from multiple life sentences and closes a key chapter in one of Florida’s most high-profile music-industry murder cases. It also shores up the state’s prosecution strategy in the ongoing legal saga surrounding his former associate, rapper YNW Melly.

Plea Deal Details

• Henry entered no contest pleas to two counts of accessory after the fact, acknowledging his role in staging the crime scene to resemble a drive-by shooting.
• Murder charges were dropped under the agreement, which includes credit for the four years already served.
• Sentencing: 10 years’ imprisonment followed by six years of supervised probation.

Case Background

• Victims Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. were fatally shot during a late-night recording session in Fort Lauderdale on October 26, 2018.
• Prosecutors allege that Jamell “YNW Melly” Demons carried out the killings while Henry assisted in covering up the crime.
• Melly’s retrial is set for early next year after a July mistrial. Henry’s plea precludes him from testifying against Melly.

Implications and Next Steps

The resolution of Henry’s case removes the threat of life sentences and solidifies the state’s narrative of collusion within the YNW collective. With Henry’s testimony secured in written form, focus now shifts to Melly’s pending retrial, where prosecutors aim to leverage evidence from Henry’s statements to strengthen their case.