YNW Melly in Jail Six Years & Counting as Judge Denies Bond Again

May 13, 2025 1

The glimmer of hope that YNW Melly had to be released ahead of his double-murder retrial was wiped away today after a judge denied his bond again.

Florida Judge Keeps YNW Melly in Custody Pending High-Profile Murder Retrial

On Monday (May 12), Judge Martin S. Fein ruled against YNW Melly’s bond request again so that he must stay behind bars until the retrial begins this September, NBC 6 South Florida reports. The Florida rapper has been incarcerated for six years fighting the case, in which he’s accused of killing YNW Juvy and YNW Sakchaser, two former friends, in 2018. He faces two first-degree murder charges. If convicted, he could do life in prison.

This marks the third time a judge has denied Melly’s request to be free before his retrial. Last November, he filed a lawsuit against the Broward County Sheriff’s Office for cruel treatment and sought immediate release. Melly, 26, is currently incarcerated in the Broward County Jail, where he’s been locked up since 2019.

XXL has reached out to YNW Melly’s lawyer for comment.

YNW Melly Appears in Court for Bond

On May 6, the controversial artist returned to court with his legal team in tow to plead for bond. Wearing a suit and noticeably shorter hair after cutting off his dreads at the start of the year, Melly sat beside his lawyer as the judge read through the many motions for his release, ranging from emergency medical care to bond.

For this most recent bond hearing, the defense proposed that YNW Melly’s record label, 300 Entertainment, would post the monetary amount for the rapper’s bond if the judge put one in place. Melly would also be on house arrest, wear an ankle monitor and have a security detai if allowed to go free. Despite Judge Fein listening to what Melly’s council had to say, he did not approve the motion for the rhymer to be freed.