In a significant development, prosecutors announced on Tuesday that they have dropped witness-tampering charges against rapper YNW Melly, just as his trial was set to commence.
YNW Melly, whose real name is Jamell Demons, faced accusations of conspiring with co-defendant Cortlen Henry and fellow inmate Terrence Mathis to prevent his ex-girlfriend from testifying in his ongoing double murder case. The reasons for the dismissal of these charges remain unclear.
The tampering trial was scheduled to begin with jury selection on Wednesday. Despite the dropped charges, Melly still confronts serious allegations of murdering his childhood friends, Anthony Williams and Christopher Thomas Jr., in a drive-by shooting that occurred in October 2018. Both victims were aspiring rappers affiliated with the YNW collective, known as YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy.
Currently held at the Broward County jail, Melly faces a murder trial where, if convicted, he could potentially receive the death penalty. His previous trial in 2023 ended in a mistrial after jurors reported being deadlocked.
A Complex Scheme Uncovered
According to prosecutors, Melly, along with Henry and Mathis—who is also incarcerated on a separate murder charge—developed a “sophisticated system” for communicating with individuals outside of the Broward County jail. This involved the use of coded language and false names.
Prosecutors revealed that Mathis made over 60 phone calls to Henry, who was out on bond. During these calls, he referred to Melly’s ex-girlfriend as “Rihanna” and mentioned “A$AP Rocky’s baby mama,” presumably to instruct Henry to keep Mariah Hamilton from testifying. Records indicate that the prosecution was able to decode these messages, revealing Melly’s attempts to manipulate witness testimony.
Court documents stated, “The defendant went to great lengths to have others contact Mariah Hamilton for him,” noting that his phone privileges had been revoked due to prior violations, prompting him to enlist the help of gang associates.
In a related matter, last September, Cortlen Henry reached a plea deal with prosecutors, resulting in the dismissal of two murder charges against him. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of accessory after the fact and witness tampering. As part of the agreement, Henry is expected to provide a “proffer,” offering valuable information to prosecutors, which could impact Melly’s case.
Terrence Mathis also accepted a plea deal, receiving a five-year sentence for witness tampering while serving a life sentence for an unrelated murder conviction.
Stay tuned for updates as more information regarding YNW Melly’s case becomes available. For more insights into celebrity legal matters, visit our Celebrity Legal topic.
