The infamous co-founder of the Black Mafia Family, Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory Sr., has been released from federal prison and is now serving the remainder of his sentence in a halfway house.
We all know his story well, thanks to the wildly popular Starz series BMF, in which Big Meech’s son, Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., played the infamous criminal.
The crime drama documented Big Meech’s journey from penniless teenager to drug tycoon running one of the largest cocaine smuggling and money laundering operations in the world.
Big Meech founded Big Mafia Family, also known as BMF, in 1985 as a creative agency and hip-hop label with his brother Terry Lee, also known as ‘Southwest Tee’.
But in the early 2000s, federal agents determined that the company was merely a front for a nationwide cocaine trafficking and money laundering scheme in which the brothers raked in more than $270 million.
The infamous co-founder of the Black Mafia Family, Demetrius ‘Big Meech’ Flenory Sr. has been released from federal prison and is now serving the remainder of his sentence in a halfway house
We know his story well, thanks to the popular Starz series BMF, in which Big Meech’s son, Demetrius “Lil Meech” Flenory Jr., played the infamous criminal. The father-son duo is seen
Big Meech’s empire collapsed when he was arrested in 2005 after the Drug Enforcement Agency shut down their drug trafficking business after a years-long investigation, and he was sentenced to 30 years behind bars in 2008.
His son, Demetrius Jr., whom he shares with beautician Latarra Eutsey, was just five years old at the time.
But he remained fiercely loyal to his father – and as he grew up, Big Meech counted on him to make sure his story was told correctly to the world.
Despite having no previous acting experience, Demetrius Jr. highly rated when the show premiered in 2021, he has now become a huge star thanks to his impressive portrayal of his drug lord father.
Demetrius Jr.’s first passion was music, and in 2019 he released a hit debut song Bad Habits.
But he then shifted his focus to acting after a life-changing phone call from his father in prison and a push from acclaimed rapper 50 Cent.
Demetrius Jr. previously explained this to the New York Post that during the phone call, his father told him that the hip-hop artist was planning to turn his story into a show, and asked him to participate so he could keep him updated on how things were going.
Demetrius Jr. then contacted 50 Cent, and they formed a friendship.
The crime drama (seen) documented Big Meech’s journey from a penniless teenager to a drug mogul running one of the largest cocaine smuggling schemes in the world.
Big Meech founded Big Mafia Family, also known as BMF, in 1985 as a creative agency and hip-hop label with his brother Terry Lee, also known as ‘Southwest Tee’.
And as the musician struggled to find someone to star as Big Meech on the show, he suddenly had a realization: Demetrius Jr. was the perfect person.
Soon, Demetrius Jr., who was in the middle of studying business at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, left school, moved to LA and began taking acting classes.
But in the early 2000s, federal agents determined that the company was merely a front for a nationwide cocaine trafficking and money laundering scheme, and he was arrested in 2005.
“At first it sounded crazy – I had never acted before,” he told the publication. “I was actually in business school at UNLV, in Las Vegas.
‘[Now] I want to act for the rest of my life. I feel like I have found my calling. So 50 Cent actually got me into acting. He’s the reason I act.
“He helped me get the role, but I had to earn it and show it to the network [that I was the right choice].’
He said he had been taking acting classes five days a week for two years before the shooting began. And once it started, his father was deeply involved in the process.
Demetrius Jr. told the Post that they spoke on the phone every day so his father could give him “insight” into how he played him.
‘He gave me insight and explained where his thinking lay at the time. I didn’t know much about his childhood and how he grew up,” he explained.
‘I didn’t understand how poor he was and what decisions he had to make. He thought he must be a man of 15, 16 years old.
His son, Demetrius Jr., whom he shares with beautician Latarra Eutsey, was just five years old at the time
But he remained fiercely loyal to his father – and growing up, Big Meech counted on him to make sure his story was told correctly to the world.
Despite having no previous acting experience, Demetrius Jr. highly rated when the show premiered in 2021
As for his love life, he was linked to R&B singer Summer Walker in early 2023, but after months of going on and off, they broke up for good in July.
“So he really had to help me understand the obstacles he was facing at the time.”
The series, titled BMF, premiered in 2021 on Starz, and also starred Da’Vinchi, Russell Hornsby, Michole Briana White and La La Anthony.
It is now a huge success and was recently renewed for its fourth season.
Demetrius Jr. also played. also one episode in HBO’s Euphoria and had a brief appearance in the series Good Times.
As for his love life, he was linked to R&B singer Summer Walker in early 2023, but after months of going on and off, they broke up for good in July.
Amid the news that Big Meech had been released, stars like Rick Ross and Sexyy Red took to social media to celebrate.
Rick Ross shared a video on his Instagram Stories saying, “The street is back. Meech, welcome back. Greeting.’
Sexyy Red tweeted: ‘Where’s the welcome party? I am [tryna] performing for da freeski.’
