YNW Bortlen Offered Plea Deal That Could Erase Double Murder Charges

YNW Bortlen is facing a life-altering decision in his long-running criminal case tied to the 2018 killings of fellow YNW crew members Anthony “YNW Sakchaser” Williams and Christopher “YNW Juvy” Thomas Jr.

Prosecutors in Broward County, Florida offered Bortlen a plea deal on September 4 that would wipe away two first-degree murder charges if he agreed to plead no contest to six other serious counts, including accessory after the fact, conspiracy, witness tampering, and gang-related activity.

If Bortlen accepts, he would be sentenced to 16 years and three months in prison, with credit for time already served. The sentences for the charges would run concurrently, significantly reducing the decades of potential prison time he’s facing. Rejecting the deal, however, would put him at risk of multiple life sentences if convicted at trial.

Judge Martin S. Fein laid out the plea agreement in court, stressing that the choice ultimately belongs to Bortlen and his attorneys.

“This is a business decision between you, your lawyers, and the state,” Fein told him, emphasizing there was no pressure from the bench to accept. Bortlen is expected to announce his decision at a court hearing scheduled for September 9. If he turns down the deal, jury selection in his trial will begin the very next day.

The case has drawn national attention for years due to its ties to rapper YNW Melly, who prosecutors allege pulled the trigger in the fatal shooting. Bortlen is accused of driving the victims to a remote spot where Melly then shot them, and helping cover up the crime in the aftermath by portraying it as a drive-by shooting.

Melly has been held in Broward County Jail since 2019. His first trial on double murder charges ended in a mistrial, and his retrial has now been postponed until January 2027. Last month, a federal judge denied his request for release, ruling that his continued detention was lawful despite the lengthy delay.

For more about Melly, Bortlen, and the case, listen to Complex’s podcast Infamous: The Story of YNW Melly, hosted by Ace Hood.