Black Mafia Family - What Happened?

The BMF story timeline from CL news reports:

1990s

BMF operated a drug ring since the 1990’s and early 2000’s. BMF operated out of hubs in L.A. – run by Terry “Southwest T” Flenory and Atlanta – run by Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory. Atlanta served as distribution site of the drugs and money while the L.A. hub handled incoming shipments from Mexico. They had two additional hubs in Detroit and St. Louis.

• Shipped huge cocaine shipments across the country in limos, RVs and other vehicles with hidden apartments
• BMF Atlanta culture focused on the importance of the ultimate crime of snitching and the fast lifestyle afforded to members
• BMF was allowed to continue running despite numerous attempts to be indicted because prosecutors struggled to find witnesses willing to testify against BMF. And if they did, they would remain anonymous.

Early 2000s

• Years ago – a bullet grazed Southwest T’s eye and the doctor messed up the surgery. T was able to get a settlement and launches a car service in Detroit that later becomes the transport system distributing cocaine across the country.
• BMF operated 5 stash houses in the Atlanta area.
  • Notable locations
    • The Gate – off Roswell Rd near Chevron
    • The Elevator – agents could not find exact location
    • The Boulevard
  • Every 10 days, vehicles would arrive with 100-150 kilos of cocaine packed in secret compartments
• Customers who ordered would call in and say their vehicle was ready
• Depending on the size of the order, they would be directed to a specific stash house
  • Pull up and hand over money in $5k bundles
  • Coke sold at $20k per kilo
  • Vehicles would be filled with cash and sent back to the Mexican suppliers
• DEA begin to suspect that the crew that has yet to call itself BMF is moving massive quantities of cocaine through Atlanta, Detroit and Los Angeles.

Fall 2003

• 7 September 2003 – 2 men were robbed by invaders in a townhouse located in Boulevard.
  • Police responded to the home invasion and house a safe the size of a small room inside the townhouse that possessed a lone shoe and a single kilo of cocaine
  • Most likely there were more drugs in the safe, which were moved before the arrival of the police

March 2004

• Big Meech launches record label BMF Entertainment as a front for money laundering and as a legitimate business and source of legal income.

End of Summer 2004

• DEA and Fulton County Prosecutors believe the BMF to be in possession of money laundering and cocaine in various states and cities.
• Money Laundering
  • Georgia - $140K
  • Missouri - $425k
  • Texas - $720K
• Drugs linked to BMF
  • Flagstaff, Arizona – 17 kilos of coke
  • Crawford County, Arkansas – 27 kilos of coke
  • St. Louis – 100 kilos (=$9 million)

October 2005

• Big Meech and Southwest T were arrested under “Continuing Criminal Enterprise” Statute
• Agents seized $21 million in assets including cash, jewelry, 3 dozen vehicles and 13 homes in Georgia, Detroit, and LA

2006

2007

Both brothers plead guilty to CCE

High-ranking BMF member pleads guilty Article

Wednesday April 11, 2007 12:04 AM EDT 04/11/2007 12:04 AM

Chad 'J-Bo' Brown faces 15 or more years in prison | more...

Alleged BMF member faces murder charges Article

Wednesday June 6, 2007 12:04 AM EDT 06/06/2007 12:04 AM

Indictment comes amid flurry of activity in several investigations into the Black Mafia Family | more...

Nearly three years later, alleged BMF member indicted in Velvet Room murder Article

Wednesday June 6, 2007 05:30 PM EDT 06/06/2007 5:30 PM

More news from BMF | more...

Alleged BMF leader Big Meech won't get his own trial Article

Tuesday July 3, 2007 05:44 PM EDT 07/03/2007 5:44 PM

News from BMF | more...

BMF leaders' trial could be pushed back Article

Wednesday July 11, 2007 12:04 AM EDT 07/11/2007 12:04 AM

Fate of 16 other co-defendants in Black Mafia Family case uncertain | more...

New trial date for alleged BMF leaders Article

Wednesday July 18, 2007 12:04 AM EDT 07/18/2007 12:04 AM

Prosecutors and defense attorneys will have more time to prepare for November trial | more...

Alleged BMF members indicted in Atlanta Article

Wednesday July 25, 2007 10:08 PM EDT 07/25/2007 10:08 PM

16 BMF members charged.  | more...

BMF witness threatened Article

Tuesday August 28, 2007 01:42 PM EDT 08/28/2007 1:42 PM

Marc "Swift" Whaley receives threats ahead of testimony.  | more...

Letter from alleged BMF leader to judge: Let me out Article

Friday September 7, 2007 02:00 PM EDT 09/07/2007 2:00 PM

Big Meech wants bail. Says he isn't a flight risk.  | more...

Rapper charged with running cocaine for BMF Article

Monday October 8, 2007 05:43 PM EDT 10/08/2007 5:43 PM

Bleu DaVinci facing charges.  | more...

Meech's lawyers: Postpone BMF trial Article

Monday October 15, 2007 03:39 PM EDT 10/15/2007 3:39 PM

Lawyers say they need more time to prep.  | more...

BMF trial postponed - again Article

Thursday October 18, 2007 08:49 PM EDT 10/18/2007 8:49 PM

Trial moved back by two weeks.  | more...

BMF co-founder follows brother's lead, pleads guilty Article

Wednesday November 21, 2007 08:54 PM EST 11/21/2007 8:54 PM

Terry "Southwest T" Flenory pleads guilty.  | more...

BMF: The book and the movie Article

Tuesday November 27, 2007 07:35 PM EST 11/27/2007 7:35 PM

CL Senior Writer Mara Shalhoup scores a book deal for her work on the BMF.  | more...

2008

Both are sentenced to 30 years imprisonment

• Terry Flenory was sent to Oregon Prison
  • May 5, 2020 – was granted a compassionate release due to health ailments and from effort by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to release certain inmates to limit the spread of the Covid-19 in federal prisons
• Demetrius Flenory was serving his sentence at the Federal Detention Center in Sheridan Oregon
  • Attempted early release under the same conditions as his brother but was denied 

Atlanta BMF trial underway Article

Wednesday June 11, 2008 06:55 PM EDT 06/11/2008 6:55 PM

Following the cases in Detroit, it is Atlanta's turn for BMF justice.  | more...

BMF member guilty on one count Article

Monday June 16, 2008 09:13 PM EDT 06/16/2008 9:13 PM

Fleming "Ill" Daniels found guilty of conspiracy to distribute cocaine. | more...

Top BMF figure guilty Article

Wednesday June 18, 2008 12:04 AM EDT 06/18/2008 12:04 AM

Witness: Rap star Young Jeezy got kilos of coke | more...

Sentencing dates for BMF co-leaders Article

Tuesday August 5, 2008 10:35 PM EDT 08/05/2008 10:35 PM

BMF sentencing to start.  | more...

BMF co-leaders sentenced Article

Wednesday September 17, 2008 12:04 AM EDT 09/17/2008 12:04 AM

Strong show of support for Black Mafia Family's Flenory brothers | more...

BMF's Big Meech approves biopic rights Article

Thursday October 9, 2008 07:33 PM EDT 10/09/2008 7:33 PM

That's what we've been told by James DuBose, the hopeful producer of a feature film about the Atlanta and L.A.-based Black Mafia Family and its heads, the Flenory brothers. | more...

Sean Diddy" Combs' cousin sentenced for his role in BMF" Article

Wednesday October 29, 2008 05:52 PM EDT 10/29/2008 5:52 PM

Darryl "Poppa" Taylor received seven years in prison for his role as a cocaine courier for the Black Mafia Family. | more...

BMF's third-in-command sentenced Article

Wednesday December 17, 2008 11:44 PM EST 12/17/2008 11:44 PM

Fleming "Ill" Daniels, close associate of Black Mafia Family co-leader Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory, gets 20 years. | more...

2009

2010

2009-2023

BMF member gets 20 years for manslaughter Article

Friday February 26, 2010 09:53 PM EST 02/26/2010 9:53 PM

Fleming "Ill" Daniels pleads guilty to 2004 killing at the now-defunct Velvet Room. | more...

Black Mafia Family Article

Saturday April 1, 2023 04:24 PM EDT 04/01/2023 4:24 PM

Creative Loafing's first hand look at the Black Mafia Family. Our collection of stories, Big Meech and the BMF.  | more...

Black Mafia Family - Who's Who? Article

Monday April 24, 2023 05:38 PM EDT 04/24/2023 5:38 PM

The BMF was indicted in Atlanta in late 2005. Many were swept up in the overall conspiracy. Here's our guide to who's who in the Black Mafia Family story.  | more...

Black Mafia Family - What Happened? Article

Monday April 24, 2023 06:39 PM EDT 04/24/2023 6:39 PM

A timeline of the Black Mafia Family story.  | more...