Florida prosecutors have dropped a witness tampering charge against rapper YNW Melly, whose legal name is Jamell Demons, days before the allegation was set to be tried separately, according to multiple sources.
The dismissal was entered on Tuesday (Jan. 20), one day ahead of jury selection in the witness tampering case. The charge accused Demons of attempting to influence a key witness connected to his pending double murder prosecution. The state alleged the conduct occurred in advance of his 2023 retrial.
Demons, 26, remains charged with two counts of first-degree murder stemming from the October 2018 deaths of Christopher Thomas Jr. and Anthony Williams. Both men were best friends of the rapper.
Miramar police have alleged that Demons shot Thomas and Williams inside a vehicle after the group left a Fort Lauderdale recording studio late on Oct. 26, 2018. Investigators further allege the killings were staged to appear as a drive-by shooting near the Everglades.
Authorities claim Demons and co-defendant Cortlen Henry later told police they were victims of gunfire. Forensic evidence later challenged that account, according to investigators.
The state previously tried Demons on the murder charges in 2023. That proceeding ended in a mistrial after jurors were unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Defense attorneys later said one juror refused to vote for conviction and persuaded others to hold out.
Florida Prosecutors Drop Witness Tampering Charges Against YNW Melly
Henry later entered a plea agreement with prosecutors. He received a 10-year prison sentence on charges including witness tampering and accessory after the fact. In exchange, the state dismissed the two murder counts against him.
Demons’ retrial on the double murder charges is scheduled for January 2027. Prosecutors have not publicly stated whether they intend to again seek the death penalty, which remains a potential sentence under Florida law.
The dismissal of the witness tampering charge does not alter the murder case but removes a parallel prosecution that carried additional exposure. Legal analysts say the move may reflect a narrowing of strategy following the mistrial.
Demons has been incarcerated since his 2019 arrest and has consistently denied involvement in the killings. The case continues to draw national attention as it moves toward retrial.
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