DETROIT (WXYZ) — They are brothers from Southwest Detroit infamous for heading an international cocaine empire they called The Black Mafia Family. In 2008, Terry and Demetrius Flenory were sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. Then the COVID-19 pandemic happened. They have both asked to be released as the virus spreads within prisons.
One of them got his wish. Terry Flenory, known as Southwest T, received high profile attention as he was released from federal prison to service his time on house arrest due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson posted on Instagram saying, “Black Mafia Boss Southwest T is out, take your time getting to the Bank, No hurry just have what you owe him by Monday.”
50 Cent has been promoting an eight episode series on the Black Mafia Family he is writing for Starz. It will tell the story of two brothers from Detroit who built a drug empire, then tried to turn it into a legitimate hip hop business, promoting stars such as Young Jeezy. It all came crashing down when they were convicted of running a criminal enterprise that made more than 270 million dollars.
“Demetrius Flenory is a loyal and humble and good person at his core,” said Wade Fink, a Birmingham attorney who is currently representing Demetrius Flenory.
Fink has asked the court to release him due to medical conditions that put him at risk of death from COVID-19. The U.S. Attorney has argued the man known as “Big Meech” should stay locked up for his crimes, pointing out he was a suspect in the murder two men, one of them a body guard for hip hop star Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs.
“At 51-years-old he wants to use the stature he has built for good. And I believe that because I have gotten to know him. The person who doesn’t know him is the United States Attorney,” said Fink.
A judge has not ultimately decided whether or not Demetrius Flenory will be released from prison due to COVID-19 like his brother. He denied it for now while more information is reviewed.
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