What is Big Meech's Net Worth?
Big Meech is an American convicted drug dealer who has a net worth of $500 thousand. At his peak, Big Meech's net worth was $100 million. Big Meech earned his illicit fortune as the co-founder of the Black Mafia Family, a criminal organization that was active during the 1990s and early 2000s. The Black Mafia Family ultimately generated an estimated $270 million in illicit profits and employed around 500 people. Meech and his brother, Terry Lee Flenory, or "Southwest T," got their start by selling $50 bags of cocaine in Detroit while in high school. In the late 1980s they founded The Black Mafia Family, which at its peak dealt cocaine across the United States with hubs in Atlanta, Georgia, and Los Angeles, California. Big Meech reportedly handled operations in Atlanta, while Southwest T was responsible for the L.A. branch of the organization. At its peak, the brothers were moving 2,500 kilos of cocaine every month in and out of Atlanta alone.
In 2000, the brothers founded BMF Entertainment in an effort to legitimize their business. Soon, they became associated with a variety of acts, including Young Jeezy. Other BMF artists have included Bleu DaVinci, Calico Jonez, Nu Money, Baby D, Fee Money, and D-Boi. The Drug Enforcement Administration arrested the brothers in 2005. Both pleaded guilty to charges of money laundering and drug trafficking, and they each received a 30-year federal prison sentence. Big Meech was released from prison on October 17, 2024, after serving nearly 20 years.
Black Mafia Family
Demetrius Flenory was born on June 21, 1968, in Detroit, Michigan. He grew up in a low-income neighborhood with his younger brother Terry, who later became his business partner in the drug trade. Demetrius dropped out of high school and began dealing drugs at a young age, starting with small-time operations before expanding into larger ventures.
In the early 1990s, Big Meech and his brother Terry relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, where they established the Black Mafia Family, also known as BMF. The organization specialized in distributing cocaine and other drugs across the country, quickly becoming one of the most prominent drug cartels in the United States.
Under Big Meech's leadership, BMF gained notoriety for its extravagant lifestyle, which included flashy cars, expensive jewelry, and celebrity connections. The organization's members also had a reputation for violence and intimidation, and many rivals feared crossing them.
BMF's criminal activities caught the attention of law enforcement, and Big Meech and his brother Terry were indicted on drug trafficking charges in 2005. The case was one of the largest in U.S. history, involving over 150 people and more than $270 million in drug proceeds.
via Michigan Department of Corrections
Arrest and Imprisonment
In 2005, Big Meech was arrested in Los Angeles and charged with running a continuing criminal enterprise, money laundering, and conspiracy to distribute drugs. He was extradited to Detroit, where he was held without bail for three years before finally being sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Investigators seized $21 million worth of assets, including cash, jewelry, more than 30 cars, and 13 homes located in Detroit, Atlanta, and Los Angeles.
During his time behind bars, Big Meech maintained a high profile, continuing to live a lavish lifestyle and earning a large following on social media. He also worked on writing his autobiography and was rumored to be involved in a movie project based on his life.
In 2020, Big Meech's sentence was reduced to 360 months, or 30 years, as part of a federal prison reform initiative.
Terry Flenory was released in 2020 as part of an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19.
In June 2021, a federal judge reduced Meech's sentence by three years for good behavior. At this point, he was set for release in 2028. In March 2024, it was revealed that Meech would be released sometime in 2025. He was serving his sentence at the Federal Correctional Institution in Sheridan, Oregon. Big Meech was released from prison on October 17, 2024, after serving nearly 20 years.
Media Portrayals
Big Meech's story has been the subject of numerous books, documentaries, and TV shows.
In 2010 newspaper editor Mara Shalhoup wrote a book on the Black Mafia Family called "BMF: The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family."
In 2012, he was featured in the documentary series "American Gangster," which explored the lives of some of the most infamous criminals in American history. The following year, BET aired the series "BMF: The Rise and Fall of a Hip-Hop Drug Empire," which chronicled the rise of the Black Mafia Family.
Big Meech has also been referenced in several songs by hip-hop artists, including Jay-Z, Rick Ross, and Young Jeezy. His name has become synonymous with the lavish lifestyle and excesses of the drug trade, and he remains a controversial figure to this day.
