YNW Melly co-defendent arrested

YNW Bortlen, the rapper born Cortlen Henry and a co-defendant in YNW Melly‘s double murder trial, was arrested on Monday evening by Miami-Dade police on an out-of-county warrant. The arrest was first reported by Dallas journalist Bryson Paul and confirmed in online records viewed by The FADER; according to Paul, Bortlen was charged with witness tampering.

Bortlen was reportedly apprehended at his home in Miami. It is unclear whether the new charge relates to the murders of Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr., to which Bortlen has been charged and pleaded not guilty.

Fred Haddad, Bortlen's lawyer, told the Sun Sentinel it is likely that Bortlen's bail in the double homicide case will be revoked as a result of his arrest. The FADER has reached out to Haddad for more information. Bortlen was granted bail in May 2020.

YNW Melly's second trial in the double homicide will begin on October 9; Bortlen's will begin in January. The first ended in a mistrial after a month-long hearing. The State of Florida announced its intention to retry Melly and Bortlen within a few days of the end of the first trial.