Meech pleads guilty

DETROIT — After spending two years awaiting trial, Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory pleaded guilty Nov. 19 to laundering drug money and running a continuing criminal enterprise. His plea ended a 15-year investigation into his role in the $270 million multistate cocaine ring the Black Mafia Family.

Meech, a 39-year-old hip-hop entrepreneur and Detroit native who ran BMF's Atlanta hub, stood with his hands clasped behind his back and admitted to U.S. District Court Judge Avern Cohn that he "supervised" the drug ring. (BMF was the subject of a three-part series published by CL last year.)

"I was the leader of a few individuals that was involved in this case," he told Cohn in a low, soft voice.

While a conviction on a continuing criminal enterprise charge carries a mandatory life sentence, Meech's guilty plea means he could face as little as 20 years. A sentencing date wasn't set.

The plea deal didn't include a cooperation agreement, meaning he won't be called to testify against his remaining co-defendants, including his brother, alleged BMF co-leader Terry "Southwest T" Flenory.