How Demetrius Flenory Built a $270 Million Cocaine Empire (2024)



Demetrius Flenory – aka Big Meech –is an American former drug dealer, an entrepreneur and businessman, who is possibly best known for founding the money laundering and drug trafficking group, The Black Mafia Family (BMF).

Age, Early Life, and Education Background

Demetrius Edward Flenory is a native of Cleveland, Ohio, who was born under the Cancer zodiac sign on 21 June 1968, which makes him 55 years old as of 2023. He’s the oldest son of Lucille and Charles Flenory; his mother was a devout Christian who did her best to raise her children in Christian ways. Demetrius has a brother namedTerry Lee Flenory – aka Southwest T. – with whom he started his illegal business. He also has a sister named Nicole. Flenory’s family relocated to Detroit, Michigan, when he was still young, where he began selling drugs, especially cocaine, on the streets of Detroit when he was in high school in the late ‘80s.

The Black Mafia Family (BMF)

The BMFwas founded in 1985 in Southwest Detroit, by the brothers Big Meech and Southwest T. By the early 2000s, the organization had established direct links to drug cartels in Mexico. and a massive cocaine distribution network throughout the US. The BMF had two key hubs: one that handled incoming drug shipments and was run by Terry in Los Angeles and another one that was run by Demetrius in Atlanta.

In the 2000s, the BMF ventured into the hip-hop music industry through the record label and promotion agency, BMF Entertainment, created to serve as a front organization, and used to launder the money that was collected from the sales of narcotics. The record label actually promoted various renowned hip-hop artist,s including P. Diddy, Jay-Z, T.I., and Trina, and also served as Bleu DaVinci’s record label. In the early 2000s, Demetrius, Terry and BMF became very famous amongst hip-hop fans for their extravagant lifestyles.

Investigations

Police investigations into the BMF began in the early ‘90s, before the organization reached the peak of its distribution. In October 2003, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA’s) Special Operations Division began co-ordinating a two-year investigation under the codename ‘Operation Motor City Mafia.’ On 11 April 2004, the DEA pulled over BMF’s high-level distributor and courier, Jabari Hayes, in Phelps County, Missouri, and found around 210lbs (95kgs) of cocaine and at least 1.25lbs (0.57kgs) of marijuana in the back of the limo he was driving. This led to a series of raids, the use of wiretaps, and informant testimonies that saw the DEA seize around $3 million in assets and cash, 5.5lbs (2.5kgs) of cocaine, and several illegal weapons. The October 2005 raids also resulted in the arrest of at least 30 members of BMF accused by the DEA of moving approximately 5,512lbs (2,500kgs) of cocaine per month throughout the US.

Arrest

Flenory and his brother, Southwest T were arrested in 2005, and thereafter pleaded guilty to running a criminal enterprise in November 2007, which saw them sentenced to 30 years in jail in September 2008. Southwest T was released to home confinement in May 2020 because of a health ailment. Big Meech also sought a compassionate release, but was denied because prison records suggested that he hadn’t changed, and continued promoting himself as a drug lord – he is still serving his sentence at Federal Correctional Institution, Sheridan (FCI Sheridan), in Oregon.

While in prison, Big Meech adopted the nickname ‘Big Herm,’ earned his General Educational Development (GED), and took parenting, money management, and health awareness classes. Moreover, he rebranded the Black Mafia Family into a community-building non-profit organization. Flenory was to get out of jail in 2031, but will be released in May 2028 after his sentence was reduced from 30 years (360 months) to 27 years (324 months) by a US district judge. Following the announcement of his sentence reduction, the American rapper and producer, 50 Cent, took to social media to express his joy stating that he couldn’t wait for the Black Mafia Family leader to be released.

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Personal Life

Previously, Big Meech dated the Florida-based real estate specialist, Latarra Eutsey, with whom he welcomed a son namedDemetrius ‘Lil Meech’ Flenory Jr. in 2000, who is Big Meech’s only confirmed child, and currently a rapper, actor and producer famous for portraying his dad in 50 Cent’s crime drama series “BMF.” He’s also released numerous songs including “Psycho,” “Confession Freestyle,” and “Manifesto.” In December 2022, Lil Meech was arrested at Florida’s Fort Lauderdale Airport after he was found in possession of an illegal firearm – he was released after paying a bond of $2,500. It is alleged that Big Meech also dated a woman named Sabrina Peterson.

Alleged Children

In 2019, Flenory’s mother shared a photo of a young lady named Manessa Mia Hussey, which resulted in speculations that she was his daughter. Several other women including Demetria Edwadior J. Flenory, Neeka Flenory, and Queen Trudy have come out claiming to be Big Meech’s daughters.

Height, Weight, and Physical Appearance

Flenory is of Afro-American ethnicity and has a pair of dark brown eyes and long black dreadlocks. He’s 5ft 8ins (1.73m) tall, and weighs approximately 165lbs (75kgs). Flenory has inked many tattoos on his body.

Net Worth

Big Meech accumulated a huge fortune from his cocaine distribution network, and was reputedly worth a whopping $100 millionat the peak of his drug trafficking career. Prosecutors alleged that the BMF made at least $270 million through their cocaine distribution networks. Big Meech is reportedly worth around $100,000 as of 2023.

About Demetrius Flenory’s Son, Lil Meech, and the TV series “BMF.”

Demetrius Flenory Jr., aka Lil Meech, was born under the Taurus zodiac sign on 22 April 2002, in Miami, Florida, which makes him 21 years old as of 2023. He released his debut song entitled “Bad Habits” in 2019 – in the music video, he’s seen having a conversation with his dad in jail. He has released two albums, “Armed N Dangerous” (2020) and “Confessions” (2022) as of 2023. After making his TV debut in the series “BMF” in 2021, Lil Meech played a guest role in the second season of the HBO teen drama “Euphoria” in 2022. He also portrayed Syl in the 2022 Tim Sutton-directed drama movie “Taurus.” Lil Meech has a net worth of at least $3 million, as of 2023.

On 26 September 2021, the crime TV series “BMF,” which follows the story of Demetrius Flenory and Terry Flenory, began airing on Starz. It starred Demetrius Flenory Jr., Da’Vinchi, La La Anthony, and Kash Doll. The series has aired for two seasons as of July 2023.