Rapper YNW Melly, born Jamell Demons, has filed a lawsuit against the Broward Sheriff’s Office, claiming he is facing “illegal detention” under conditions that violate several constitutional rights, including the First, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendments. The lawsuit marks a new chapter in Melly’s ongoing legal battle as he awaits retrial in a high-profile double murder case.
Demons has been in custody since 2019 after being accused of killing two of his childhood friends. His first trial, which concluded in 2023, ended in a mistrial, and a new trial date has now been set for September 10, 2025.
According to Demons’ attorney, Michael Pizzi, the rapper has been unable to meet privately with legal counsel or communicate adequately with his family, including his mother, Jamie King. “I’ve spoken with him on several occasions, but each time I’ve been unable to sit in a room where I could show him legal documents,” Pizzi stated. The attorney plans to file a federal motion to seek Demons’ immediate release.
King, who has not been able to speak with her son directly since 2022, said that written communication has also been challenging. “Sometimes he responds to something I wrote weeks ago,” she explained during a recent press conference. She vowed to continue advocating for her son’s release and well-being, adding, “Jamell, I’m going to keep fighting for you. I just want to know you’re OK and hear your voice.”
The Broward Sheriff’s Office issued a statement addressing the claims, stating that while they do not use “solitary confinement,” Melly has been placed in “administrative segregation” due to safety concerns. This classification, the sheriff’s office says, is necessary when an inmate’s presence in the general population could threaten the safety of staff, other inmates, or property.
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