YNW Melly Sues For “Cruel” Treatment, Seeks Immediate Release Pending Retrial
YNW Melly is hoping to be released pending retrial after making allegations against the Broward Sheriff’s Office (BSO) in a new lawsuit. According to NBC Miami the rapper, whose legal name is Jamell Demons, is accusing BSO of cruel treatment and violating his constitutional rights. The legal filing claims that Demons is being “illegally detained under conditions that violate the First, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution.”
This includes not being able to see his family for years in what is described as “debilitating isolation,” and unreasonable restrictions hindering his attorney Michael Pizzi Jr. from proper contact.
“His cruel treatment by the Broward Detention authorities warrants his immediate release from pretrial detention since the detaining authorities have shown such a callous disregard for his human dignity Right to Counsel,” the lawsuit explains.
Jamell Demons, better known as rapper YNW Melly, stands with his attorneys, Raven Ramona Liberty, left, and Stuart Adelstein, right, as jurors enter the courtroom for closing arguments in his trial at the Broward County Courthouse on July 20, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Demons, 22, is accused of killing two fellow rappers and conspiring to make it look like a drive-by shooting in October 2018.
Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
In a statement to XXL, BSO denies the allegations made by Demons’ attorney.
“The Broward Sheriff’s Office does not generally comment on pending litigation,” the statement reads. “However, the jail does not utilize ‘solitary confinement.’ Rather, Mr. Demons has been placed on administrative segregation, which is a classification resulting in an alternate living assignment for an inmate whose placement in the general population poses a serious threat to the safety of staff or inmates, or life and property.”
Demons’ attorney also asserted, “We are asking a Federal Judge to Order the immediate release of Jemell Demons (a.k.a. Melly) because the Broward County jail system has been violating his Constitutional Rights,” in a separate memo to the outlet.
YNW Melly attends Murda Beatz 25th Birthday + GRAMMY Celebration on February 08, 2019 in West Hollywood, California.
Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for 2wenty 2wenty Music
In July 2023, the double murder case against YNW Melly for the shooting deaths of 21-year-old Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and 19-year-old Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas in Florida ended in a mistrial. The jury deliberated for two days following closing arguments.
“Our system doesn’t work without getting people from the community to come in here and listen to the facts of the case and make decisions,” elaborated Judge Murphy to the jury at the time. “You gave us the time and you put your best effort to see if you could bring this case to a resolution, unfortunately, it wasn’t able to happen but I want to thank you again for your time and consideration of the case.”
Per NBC Miami, Judge Martin Fein set a new trial date of Sept. 10, 2025, and a pretrial meeting for December 5, 2024. for recent allegations of tampering.
