The Gifford rapper accused of helping bring about the 2018 murder in Broward County of two members of his YNW Melly rap group, accepted a plea deal in early September and has entered the Florida prison system, avoiding trial.

Cortlen Henry, 26, known as YNW Bortlen, and Jamell Demons, known as YNW Melly, both initially entered pleas of not-guilty following charges brought against them in relation to the Oct. 26, 2018, shooting deaths of Anthony Williams of Gifford — YNW Sakchaser — and Christopher Thomas Jr. of Fort Pierce — YNW Juvy.

All four grew up in Gifford in Indian River County and all went to Vero Beach High School. Their stage names all include “YNW” because they belonged to the same hip-hop collective. It stands for “Young New Wave” or another phrase that includes a racial slur.

Demons and Henry were jailed in February 2019. Law enforcement and state prosecutors accused Henry of helping Demons, 26, with a plot to cover up the premeditated shootings. Prosecutors argued Henry helped Demons stage a drive-by shooting after Demons shot their two friends.

In court records, Miramar police said Henry told detectives Williams and Thomas were victims of a drive-by shooting along Interstate 75.

Henry had been charged with first-degree murder with a deadly weapon and two counts of accessory to capital murder, and in a separate 2023 case, he was charged with tampering with a witness, directing the activities of a criminal gang, tampering with a felony life or capital proceeding and use of a two-way device to facilitate a felony.

He faced up to life in prison if convicted during a separate trial from Demons.

According to court records, Henry accepted a negotiated plea Sept. 9 and changed his not guilty plea to no contest. Broward Circuit Judge Martin Fein adjudicated him guilty on two counts of accessory after the fact to a capital felony, one count of tampering with a witness and one count of unlawful use of a two-way communication device. The state attorney’s office dropped the other charges.

While a no contest plea means you don’t admit guilt, it has the same legal outcome as a guilty plea: a conviction and sentencing. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison, with just under four years already served in the Broward County Jail, court records show. He has been at the South Florida Reception Center of the Florida Department of Corrections since Sept. 16. Once released from the prison he gets assigned to, he’ll be on probation for six years.

Cortlen Henry, aka YNW Bortlen, 26, Sept. 16, 2025

His attorney, Fred Haddad, of Fort Lauderdale, could not be reached by phone for comment.

A memo in the court record about the plea deal by Assistant State Attorney Taylor Collins and Assistant State Attorney Justin Griffis outlines the prosecutors’ position.

“The evidence in the 2018 homicide case would show that the defendant was present in the vehicle at the time of the shootings but was insufficient to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he participated in a way that would make him a principle to the homicide(s) … versus participating after the fact in helping to conceal the crime,” the memo stated.

Regarding the 2023 tampering case, prosecutors said in the memo that Henry “engaged with his co-defendant in ensuring (a) witness … did not cooperate in the homicide trial of Jamell Demons.”

The state attorneys also acknowledged Henry had no prior criminal history.

“Given the … evidence and issues, it was decided that the best course of action would be to resolve the cases … and provide a proffer as to what his testimony would be if called upon,” the memo stated.

During Henry’s first round of bail hearings in August 2019, Haddad stated in court: “There is just no evidence in any way suggesting (Henry) was involved in the alleged murders,” records show.

Haddad said then the evidence showed Henry “never fired a weapon,” and that “the shooting by all evidence occurred from the rear left seat; Mr. Henry was the driver.”

Henry was released from jail June 2020 on $180,000 bond, for house arrest. But he was rearrested in April 2021 and charged with probation violation after he was tracked to bars and gentlemen’s clubs over two days in late March. He had been on house arrest under the condition that he was only to leave his residence for work, court records show.

Jamell Demons, better known as rapper YNW Melly, speaks with defense attorney Raven Ramona Liberty during a hearing before his trial at the Broward County Courthouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Oct. 13, 2023. Demons is accused of killing two fellow rappers and conspiring to make it look like a drive-by shooting in October 2018.
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Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Demons on two charges of first-degree murder.

A July 2023 death penalty trial ended in mistrial with a hung jury and another trial was scheduled for Sept. 10, however it was moved to January 2027, according to court records.

Demons, 26, has remained in Broward County Jail since his 2019 incarceration and has made several unsuccessful attempts for a pre-trial release from jail on bond.