YNW Melly demands an immediate release as his attorney alleges that the rapper is being held in solitary confinement without visits or phone calls, violating his constitutional rights.
- Nov 4, 2024
AceShowbiz - YNW Melly, currently incarcerated awaiting retrial, is allegedly in inhumane conditions at the Broward Sheriff's Office. His attorney Michael A. Pizzi Jr. filed a 12-page lawsuit this week alleging that Melly has been held in solitary confinement for nearly three years, denied visits and phone calls, and subjected to cruel and unusual conditions.
The lawsuit alleges that these conditions violate Melly's constitutional rights, including the First, Fifth, Sixth, Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments. Pizzi Jr. also claims that Melly's attorneys have had difficulty communicating with him, including being denied entry and made to wait excessively.
In April 2022, an incident occurred where another inmate falsely accused Melly of planning an escape. Allegedly, this resulted in even further communication restrictions and a full shakedown of Melly's cell. Pizzi Jr. argues that these restrictions are punitive and unrelated to security concerns, intended to deteriorate Melly's mental health and hinder his trial preparation.
The lawsuit further alleges that non-black inmates are not subjected to such restrictions. Pizzi Jr. emphasizes the psychological toll of Melly's isolation and the violations of his right to counsel.
Melly's retrial is scheduled for September 10, 2025. The lawsuit demands his immediate release from the inhumane conditions he is currently facing.
