In a major development in one of Florida’s most high-profile criminal cases, the state has officially dropped all witness tampering charges against rapper YNW Melly (real name Jamell Demons), his attorney Drew Findling announced on January 29, 2026. The decision marks a significant victory for the defense and clears the way for Melly’s upcoming murder retrial in the 2018 double homicide of his friends YNW Sakchaser and YNW Juvy.

Findling, a prominent Atlanta-based defense attorney known for representing high-profile clients including Young Thug and Gunna, held a brief press conference outside the Broward County courthouse following the filing. Standing beside Melly’s mother, Jamie King, Findling delivered a confident and defiant message: “The state has finally admitted what we’ve been saying all along — there was no credible evidence of witness tampering. These charges were a distraction, a pressure tactic, and now they’re gone. My client is not guilty of witness tampering, and he is not guilty of murder. I guarantee you: when this retrial is over, Jamell Demons will walk out of that courtroom a free man.”

The witness tampering allegations stemmed from claims that Melly and his team attempted to influence or intimidate witnesses in the lead-up to his first trial in 2022, which ended in a hung jury. Prosecutors had accused Melly of directing communications from jail through intermediaries to pressure potential witnesses. Findling called the charges “baseless and retaliatory,” arguing they were designed to prejudice the jury pool and complicate Melly’s defense.

The state’s decision to drop the charges came after months of legal wrangling and mounting pressure from the defense, which filed multiple motions to dismiss and challenged the admissibility of key evidence. Prosecutors did not provide a detailed explanation for the dismissal but issued a short statement: “After careful review of the evidence and in the interest of justice, the state has elected to nolle prosequi the witness tampering counts. The murder charges remain pending, and we look forward to presenting our case at retrial.”

Findling wasted no time framing the development as a turning point. “This is not a small win — this is proof the state’s case has been crumbling from the beginning,” he said. “They overcharged, they overreached, and now they’re backpedaling. When we get back in that courtroom, the jury will see the truth: no forensic evidence ties Jamell to the scene, no murder weapon, no reliable eyewitnesses. The prosecution’s entire narrative falls apart under scrutiny.”

The retrial is scheduled to begin in late spring 2026, following extensive pretrial motions and jury selection. Legal analysts note that the dropped tampering charges could benefit Melly significantly by reducing the number of accusations and allowing the defense to focus solely on the double murder counts. “It narrows the narrative,” said Miami defense attorney David Oscar Marcus. “The jury won’t be distracted by secondary allegations. The state will have to prove murder beyond a reasonable doubt — and that’s always been their weakest link.”

Melly’s supporters, known as the “YNW Family,” flooded social media with celebration. Posts with hashtags #FreeMelly and #JusticeForMelly trended globally within hours. Melly himself, who has remained in Broward County Jail since his 2019 arrest, reportedly called his mother after the ruling and told her, “We’re almost there, Ma.”

The case has captivated the public since Melly was charged with first-degree murder in the shooting deaths of his childhood friends Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr. Prosecutors allege Melly shot the pair in a car and staged the scene to look like a drive-by. The defense maintains the evidence is circumstantial and that Melly was framed by a former associate seeking leniency.

Findling closed his remarks with a vow: “The state has thrown everything at Jamell — multiple trials, endless delays, witness tampering charges they couldn’t prove. None of it worked. When this retrial is done, the only verdict will be not guilty. I’m not just confident — I’m certain.”

For Melly’s supporters, the dropped charges represent vindication. For critics, it’s merely one less hurdle in a case still far from resolution. As the retrial approaches, one thing is clear: Drew Findling is ready for battle — and he believes the outcome is already written.