YNW Bortlen Takes Plea Deal, Avoids Trial in YNW Melly Double Murder Case

Lead: Cortlen “YNW Bortlen” Henry pleaded no contest to accessory after the fact and witness-tampering charges in Broward County today, receiving a 10-year sentence with credit for time served and six years’ probation.

Nut Graf: The plea agreement, reached September 9, spares Henry a life sentence and requires him to submit a sworn statement detailing his role in the 2018 killings of Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr., though he is not compelled to testify against Jamell “YNW Melly” Demons.

Plea Terms and Sentencing

  • Henry admitted to accessory after the fact and tampering with a witness, leading to dismissal of first-degree murder counts.
  • He will serve an additional six years on probation after crediting four years already served.
  • As part of the deal, he agreed to a proffer, obligating him to provide investigators a truthful account of events in court.

Impact on Melly’s Retrial

YNW Melly, charged with two counts of first-degree murder for allegedly shooting his friends inside a Jeep, remains jailed awaiting a retrial set for January 2027. Prosecutors say Bortlen drove the vehicle and helped stage the scene as a drive-by shooting, but his plea does not bind him to testify against Melly.

Case Background and Next Steps

The 2018 incident stemmed from a recording session in Fort Lauderdale, where surveillance footage placed Melly in the rear seat firing the fatal shots. Deadlocked jurors in Melly’s 2023 trial resulted in a mistrial, and legal battles over evidence and representation issues have delayed the retrial. Melly has since hired new counsel amid claims of mistreatment in county jail and concerns over his previous defense team.

Relevance and Public Interest

The high-profile case has drawn attention to procedural delays in the justice system and raised questions about plea-deal incentives in complex murder prosecutions. Henry’s cooperation may inform both criminal and related civil proceedings, while Melly’s fate hinges on whether prosecutors can secure testimony or evidence to reach a conviction in the second trial.