The alleged co-founder and head of the Black Mafia Family (BMF) will plead guilty to charges of running a continuing criminal enterprise in federal court today (November 19).
Federal prosecutors accuse Big Meech, born Demetrius Flenory and his brother Terry “Southwest T) of running a massive, multistate cocaine ring, which distributed thousands of kilos each month.
The government claims the brothers entered into the drug game as teenagers in Detroit and grew BMF into a national drug ring, which smuggled cocaine in from Mexico in jets and luxury vehicles outfitted with secret compartments.
The brothers then laundered over $270 million dollars in drug proceeds through a number of fake businesses, while purchasing millions in jewelry, cars and other luxuries.
Big Meech was slated to go on trial November 26 along with seven of the other 41 co-defendants.
Authorities have not revealed details of Big Meech’s deal, or if he is willing to cooperate with authorities in any manner. Federal officials investigated BMF for over 15 years.
So far, over 150 suspects have been indicted in numerous states.
According to Atlanta’s Creative Loafing, neither Big Meech or his brother have been charged with a violent crime, although several high-profile murders and shootings have been attributed to BMF.
Prosecutors believe the organization is behind the murder of a federal witness and his girlfriend, as well as the murder of a nightclub patron during a dispute with a high ranking BMF member.
The police believe BMF was behind the murders of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ bodyguard Anthony “Wolf” Jones and Lamont Girdy, both 38 years-of-age.
Both men were gunned down in an Atlanta nightclub parking lot, after a dispute erupted between the two men over a woman.
Big Meech was shot during the altercation. Shortly after being treated at a local hospital, he was arrested in connection with the double homicide.
He was released on $100,000 bond, but was never indicted due to a lack of evidence.
Despite BMF’s strict code of silence, the government has produced a number of witnesses who have agreed to cooperate in some fashion.
Grammy nominated producer Damon Thomas of the production team The Underdogs must testify, due to a traffic stop in 2005, when police found over $5 million dollars worth of jewelry on Terry Flenory.
Both Thomas and passenger Eric Bivins are accused of lying to police to cover for Flenory.
Bivins told police the diamond encrusted jewels were for a video shoot for rapper Young Jeezy.
Ironically, Thomas was sued by Jacob “The Jeweler” Arabov in 2006, amidst claims that Thomas borrowed over $2 million in jewelry and never paid a balance of almost $1 million dollars.
Thomas denied that the jewels belonged to him.
Arabov has since pleaded guilty to federal money laundering charges and faces up to 48 months in prison, after he allegedly helped the group launder proceeds earned from the sale of cocaine.
The government’s investigation into the group continues as well.
In July rapper Barima “Bleu Da Vinci” was indicted on cocaine-conspiracy charges and just last week, over a dozen people with ties to a BMF hub in Compton, California were arrested and charged with various crimes committed by the BMF organization.