Black Mafia Family trial set for late summer
An August trial date has been set in the 41-defendant federal prosecution of the Black Mafia Family, an alleged multistate cocaine ring whose operation spanned more than two decades and generated an estimated $270 million.
The storied BMF crew, which is said to have run a central hub in Atlanta and has publicly aligned itself with such hip-hop stars as Young Jeezy, was nabbed in October 2005 after a years-long investigation. The investigation was the subject of a three-part series published in December by CL.
The ring's Atlanta enterprise was allegedly led by Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory, a flashy Atlanta-based hip-hop entrepreneur who is accused of using his record label and glossy magazine as a front for drug money. Meech's brother, Terry "Southwest T" Flenory, allegedly led the organization's L.A. hub.
At times, the probe was complicated by a code of silence that blanketed crew members. The silence, however, has been broken by several alleged witnesses -- many of whom recently were identified in court documents for the first time. The documents, filed last month in federal court, offer the most detailed view to date of the government's case against BMF.
Two of the 12 potential witnesses who are identified by name -- Charles Parson and Arnold Boyd -- are defendants who've pleaded guilty and are now cooperating in the federal investigation. Parson and Boyd are described as couriers who ran drugs and cash for the crew. (Three additional defendants have pleaded guilty as well, though their plea agreements do not reference any willingness to cooperate.) At least three other defendants who have yet to enter a guilty plea also are cooperating with the feds.
A document filed Jan. 16 describes Boyd's visits to a sprawling Lithonia home where the Flenory brothers allegedly lived. The crew called it the "White House." On one occasion, in the basement of the house, Boyd claims to have spotted seven alleged BMF members -- including Terry Flenory -- and 100 kilos of coke.
The document also states that a contractor doing work on the house occasionally observed people sleeping on the floor "with guns, money, and jewelry at their sides."
"The jewelry he recalled seeing included 'BMF' medallions," according to the document. "He asked a couple of these individuals what 'BMF' stood for. One told him that 'BMF' ... stood for 'Black Mafia Family.' [He] was told that if [he] had not yet heard of the 'Black Mafia Family,' 'he soon would.'"
The most damning statements to surface in the court file point to Terry Flenory. There is little in the witnesses' statements that directly implicates Terry's brother of running drugs or laundering cash -- aside from one witness who claimed Big Meech supplied him with cocaine in the late '80s and early '90s, and another who said Meech gave him $125,000 cash to write a check for jewelry.
Demetrius Flenory's attorney, Drew Findling, has said in court filings and in interviews with CL that the evidence against his client is weak. "Ninety-nine percent is Terry," Findling says. "We got a few names [of witnesses], but they just make general statements. That's it. There is no specificity."
Terry Flenory's attorney, William B. Daniel, of Detroit, was not available for comment. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Detroit did not return CL's phone calls.
Perhaps the most illuminating of the witnesses' accusations are the ones offering new details on the crew's alleged ties to luminaries such as Jeezy; New York diamond purveyor to the stars Jacob "the Jeweler" Arabov; Grammy-nominated songwriter and Dreamgirls soundtrack producer Damon Thomas; and former son-in-law of Mayor Shirley Franklin, Tremayne Graham.
Defendant-turned-witness Boyd recalled a 2003 transaction in Atlanta between Terry Flenory and Graham. "Graham picked up $250,000 from Terry Flenory while Terry Flenory was at the 'White House,'" according to the court document. Boyd described the money as Terry Flenory's investment as a silent owner in 404 Motorsports, a high-end car dealership that Graham co-owned. "Boyd helped Tremayne Graham load the cash in Graham's vehicle, which was equipped with hidden compartments," the document states. Graham later pleaded guilty, in a separate federal case, to running drugs for BMF.
Another document, also filed in January, includes statements from Parson, the other defendant to sign a cooperation agreement. Parson described his frequent trips to New York with Terry Flenory: "Parson said that when Flenory traveled to New York City, he would always meet with 'Jacob the Jeweler' to drop off money for jewelry."
Another "cooperating defendant," Eric Bivens, described a 2005 traffic stop outside Cleveland during which he, Terry Flenory and other alleged BMF members were interrogated, and police seized $5 million in Arabov-designed jewelry. Terry had planned to take the jewels to Young Jeezy so that Jeezy could use them in a video that was supposed to be shot in St. Louis, according to Bivens. But the shoot never took place.
Shortly after the traffic stop, investigators -- who had a wire up on Terry Flenory's phone -- listened as he called Thomas, the music producer, and asked him to claim the jewels as his own. Thomas complied, and Arabov allegedly facilitated that and other fraud at BMF's request.
Several months after the BMF indictment was unsealed, Arabov -- one of the world's best-known jewelers, whose name is often invoked in hip-hop songs -- was added as a co-defendant and charged with money laundering. The government recently agreed to separately try Arabov and the five other defendants who face only money-laundering charges. A trial date for the alleged money launderers has not been set.
The trial for the other defendants is scheduled to begin Aug. 6 in the U.S. District Court in Detroit, the city where the Flenory brothers were born and raised -- and allegedly birthed one of the nation's largest cocaine rings of recent years.
If the case does go to trial in August, it will take place nearly two years after the Flenorys were arrested and the indictment against them unsealed.
MORE BMF: To read CL's three-part series on the Black Mafia Family, visit atlanta.creativeloafing.com/bmf.
COMMENTS
RE: Black Mafia Family trial set for late summer
Posted by Brontrell on 04.29.09 @ 10:24 AM
people stay snitchin that shit weak
even though i don't know bmf keep ya'll heads up
RE: Black Mafia Family trial set for late summer
Posted by hswinvest on 06.26.08 @ 07:18 AM
by HAROLD WILCOX SENTENCED TO 70 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR 1 MILLION DOLLAR LOTTERY SCHEME 1 day ago
THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE AVERN COHN sentenced HAROLD WILCOX to 70 months in prison JUNE 20th .HAROLD WILCOX said he was responsible for the lottery scheme that totaled $1,000,000,00. that he created .But knew nothing about the drug bussiness. NEIL BAHURA a local store owner stated he sold HAROLD WILCOX $50,000.00 worth of winning 4 digit lottery tickets .NEIL BAHURA recived 3 years probation.
RE: Black Mafia Family trial set for late summer
Posted by hswinvest on 06.06.08 @ 02:05 PM
. TRINA WILCOX advised DEA agents that NIGEL ADAMS and his nephew NOLAN ADAMS had stolen $500.000 in us currency from TERRY FLENORY but she didnt know any details but she heard that TERRY FLENORY had put a hit on NIGEL ADAMS AND NOLAN ADAMS and TRINA WILCOX`S sister BEVERLY ADAMS was worried SO THEY MOVED OUT OF DETROIT because they feared for there lives.
6:03 PM
Anonymous said...
Neil Bahura, 38, of Farmington Hills and the owner of JNB Market in Detroit, was sentenced today to three years probation as the result of his August 2007 guilty plea to filing a false tax return, signed under penalties of perjury announced , United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy.
Mr. Murphy was joined in the announcement by Special Agent in Charge Maurice Aouate, Internal Revenue Service Criminal Investigation and Special Agent in Charge Robert
L. Corso, Drug Enforcement Administration.
According to court records, Bahura during 2002 purchased $5,000 winning four-digit daily Michigan Lottery tickets at a discounted price of $4,500 from the true winners of the lottery. He resold the tickets to Harold Wilcox, 42, of Southfield, for $4,750, and Bahura was aware that Wilcox was purchasing them for someone else. During the tax year 2002, Bahura purchased and resold at least $50,000 worth of winning Michigan Lottery tickets, and failed to report the profits on his tax return.
Information provided to the court at the time of the plea indicated that Wilcox had purchased the lottery tickets from Bahura and other tickets with cash obtained from Terry and Demetrious Flenory, both originally of Detroit. More than one million dollars in narcotic proceeds were ultimately used in the purchase of winning lottery tickets, which were redeemed at the State of Michigan’s lottery bureau by nominees of the Flenorys. The monies, which were deposited into various personal bank accounts and used to purchase homes and vehicles, were handled in such a way to hide the fact that the cash was derived from the sale of cocaine by the Flenorys’ drug sale activities.
Wilcox, and both Flenorys have all have pleaded guilty to various narcotic related charges in the case and are awaiting sentencing.
United States Attorney Stephen J. Murphy stated, “ While common tax fraud is a serious crime which our office consistently and aggressively prosecutes, filing fales tax returns to cover up the illegal transmission of narcotic proceeds is of even greater concern and deserves the sort of felony sentencing handed out by the court today. I commend the IRS and the lawyers of our office for uncovering this novel scheme and effectively resolving the matter short of trial."
“Drug dealers have a need to be able to explain their illegal profits and will exploit any opportunity to launder their monies,” said Aouate. “IRS Criminal Investigation's unique role is to follow this money trial and, in partnership with DEA and other law enforcement agencies, identify all the guilty parties, shutting them down for good."
United States Attorney Murphy thanked the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
Detroit Press Releases | Detroit Home Page
6:22 PM
Post a Comment
Newer Post Older Post Home
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) The Insite
Isiah Carey
Isiah Carey is a news reporter at the local FOX owned and operated station in Houston, Tx.
View my complete profile
NOW YOU CAN CHAT WITH THE INSITE LIVE - TRY IT IF I'M ON LINE!
Real Time News You Can Use On The Insite!
Houston Texas Baton Rouge Lousiana Breaking News
Houston Astros Pittsburgh Pirates boxKansas City Star, USA
- Jun 05, 2008
- 14 hours ago
Runners left in scoring position: Houston 3 (Pence, KMatsui, CaLee); Pittsburgh 4 (FSanchez 2, AdLaRoche, Maholm). Runners moved up: Cruz Jr.
Related Articles »
clipped from Google - 6/2008
Sam Houston ordered to closeHouston Chronicle
- Jun 06, 2008
- 11 hours ago
By ERICKA MELLON and JENNIFER RADCLIFFE Sam Houston High has been rated "academically unacceptable" every year since 2002. Schools weren't rated in 2003, ...
Related Articles »
clipped from Google - 6/2008
Charde Houston Thrives On Newfound Freedom In WNBAHartford Courant
- Jun 06, 2008
- 10 hours ago
By JOHN ALTAVILLA | Courant Staff Writer Barely a month into her professional basketball career, Charde Houston feels rejuvenated by the experience. ...
Related Articles »
clipped from Google - 6/2008
Houston School Principal Tossed From Post After Allowing Group ...FOXNews
- Jun 05, 2008
- Jun 05, 2008
FRIENDSWOOD, Texas — A suburban Houston junior high school principal has been removed from her post after allowing a group to make a presentation about ...
Related Articles »
clipped from Google - 6/2008
powered by
Links
The Real Authority of Rap News
FOX NEWS HOUSTON
Isiah Carey's Other Insite
Free Music Videos
BlogHouston.Net
Isiah Carey On MySpace.Com
CHECK THIS OUT!
Your Ad Here
YOU'RE NOT ALONE HERE ON THE INSITE!
15 users online
The Insite Anchoring Solo
Telling the news all alone!
Your Ad Here
THE INSITE AT WORK
Isiah Carey and Noon Anchor Melinda Spaulding
Your Ad Here
FOX 26 NEWS REPORTER ISIAH CAREY
Video Bar
powered by
RSS FEED
Subscribe in a reader
Enter your email to subscribe:
Powered by FeedBlitz
Blog Archive
▼ 2008 (903)
▼ 06/01 - 06/08 (37)
REGGIE JOHNSON IS NOW IN CUSTODY!
PASADENA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ARRESTED IN MURDER FO...
IN HONOR OF NATIONAL DOUGHNUT DAY!
THE ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL WILL TELL HIS SIDE OF THE ...
SHE WILL SUSPEND HER CAMPAIGN!
WHY ARE YOU TAKING SO LONG AT THE ATM!
LOOK, OUR FAVORITE REPORTER HAS A NEW BLOG!
CONGRATULATIONS TO KIM AND KIRK!
STATE INVESTIGATORS NEED YOUR HELP: DO YOU KNOW TH...
DID THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL GIVE A STUDENT THE BEA...
FOX 26 NEWS UPGRADES - WE'RE ADDING 5PM AND 5:30PM...
VICTORY !
CELEBRATING BARACK OBAMA'S DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION!
THE SEMINAR YOU CAN'T AFFORD TO MISS AND IT'S FREE...
REMEMBER KEVIN WILSON'S CASE YOU FIRST SAW ON FOX ...
HOUSTON BASED BOXER ARRESTED ON DRUG CHARGES!
IS IT OVER?
CAUSING RACIAL HATRED IN FRANCE WILL COST YOU - SH...
WAS ABDALLAH ROBBED BY THE US OLYMPIC COMMITTEE?
MINISTER ALAN PATTERSON GETS QUITE AN HONOR!
YOU CAN NOW CALL IT THE EMMY AWARD WINNING 'MY FOX...
WOULD YOU WITNESS THE DEATH OF YOUR MOTHER'S KILLE...
INSITE PICTURE OF THE DAY: FATHER AND DAUGHTER AND...
MICHAEL BERRY IS NOW A FATHER - HERE'S HIS NEW SON...
ARTEE JONES' SON GETS A MAJOR HONOR!
BO DIDLEY DIES!
Attorney General Abbott Announces Confidential Add...
TOM JOYNER GIVES PRAIRIE VIEW A BIG CHECK!
THEY STOLE THE WHOLE ATM!
THE TRIAL IS SLOWLY COMING TO A CLOSE INVOLVING TH...
THE GRADUATION THEY WILL NEVER FORGET!
AN EVENING AT MR. LEE'S PLACE!
JAILYN PERFORMS AT SPOTLIGHT KARAOKE!
IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO ALLOW INMATES TO RECEIVE EMAI...
SEX AND THE CITY TAKES THE WEEKEND BOX OFFICE!
OBAMA HAS TO FIND A NEW CHURCH!
THE DEMOCRATS COME TO AN AGREEMENT IN THE FLORIDA ...
► 05/25 - 06/01 (35)
THRILLER REBORN IN BRITAIN IN AN ARAB ATTORNEY AND...
HARRIS COUNTY INVESTIGATOR ACCUSED OF INTIMIDATING...
HAVE YOU STARTED CLIPPING COUPONS YET?
I THOUGHT IT WAS WAY TOO MUCH FOR TV!
YOU KNOW YOUR RED BEANS ARE PROBLEMATIC WHEN...
NOW YOU CAN CHAT LIVE WITH THE INSITE!
THERE IS A NEW CITY COURT OPENING IN HOUSTON!
DEBORAH DUNCAN GETS BACK TO HER ROOTS!
HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE COMES DOWN HARD ON ...
REMEMBER LAST YEAR'S SIP AND SURF? WELL, IT'S BACK...
INSITE READERS OF THE WEEK: DONNA AARON, USA1 AND ...
WRAPPING UP THE MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND!
I GUESS THIS MEANS NO MORE BOTTOM BASH IN BATON RO...
► 05/18 - 05/25 (35)
► 05/11 - 05/18 (36)
► 05/04 - 05/11 (50)
► 04/27 - 05/04 (36)
► 04/20 - 04/27 (43)
► 04/13 - 04/20 (39)
► 04/06 - 04/13 (42)
► 03/30 - 04/06 (49)
► 03/23 - 03/30 (46)
► 03/16 - 03/23 (39)
► 03/09 - 03/16 (45)
► 03/02 - 03/09 (39)
► 02/24 - 03/02 (39)
► 02/17 - 02/24 (34)
► 02/10 - 02/17 (45)
► 02/03 - 02/10 (42)
► 01/27 - 02/03 (38)
► 01/20 - 01/27 (48)
► 01/13 - 01/20 (44)
► 01/06 - 01/13 (42)
► 2007 (1916)
► 12/30 - 01/06 (37)
► 12/23 - 12/30 (13)
► 12/16 - 12/23 (43)
► 12/09 - 12/16 (38)
► 12/02 - 12/09 (53)
► 11/25 - 12/02 (45)
► 11/18 - 11/25 (39)
► 11/11 - 11/18 (44)
► 11/04 - 11/11 (54)
► 10/28 - 11/04 (44)
► 10/21 - 10/28 (32)
► 10/14 - 10/21 (42)
► 10/07 - 10/14 (43)
► 09/30 - 10/07 (37)
► 09/23 - 09/30 (30)
► 09/16 - 09/23 (29)
► 09/09 - 09/16 (48)
► 09/02 - 09/09 (30)
► 08/26 - 09/02 (32)
► 08/19 - 08/26 (33)
► 08/12 - 08/19 (42)
► 08/05 - 08/12 (37)
► 07/29 - 08/05 (36)
► 07/22 - 07/29 (51)
► 07/15 - 07/22 (35)
► 07/08 - 07/15 (37)
► 07/01 - 07/08 (37)
► 06/24 - 07/01 (38)
► 06/17 - 06/24 (42)
► 06/10 - 06/17 (42)
► 06/03 - 06/10 (44)
► 05/27 - 06/03 (28)
► 05/20 - 05/27 (37)
► 05/13 - 05/20 (35)
► 05/06 - 05/13 (38)
► 04/29 - 05/06 (35)
► 04/22 - 04/29 (36)
► 04/15 - 04/22 (50)
► 04/08 - 04/15 (29)
► 04/01 - 04/08 (26)
► 03/25 - 04/01 (37)
► 03/18 - 03/25 (38)
► 03/11 - 03/18 (26)
► 03/04 - 03/11 (31)
► 02/25 - 03/04 (27)
► 02/18 - 02/25 (33)
► 02/11 - 02/18 (30)
► 02/04 - 02/11 (30)
► 01/28 - 02/04 (33)
► 01/21 - 01/28 (34)
► 01/14 - 01/21 (32)
► 01/07 - 01/14 (44)
► 2006 (1217)
► 12/31 - 01/07 (43)
► 12/24 - 12/31 (21)
► 12/17 - 12/24 (29)
► 12/10 - 12/17 (32)
► 12/03 - 12/10 (40)
► 11/26 - 12/03 (16)
► 11/19 - 11/26 (20)
► 11/12 - 11/19 (41)
► 11/05 - 11/12 (34)
► 10/29 - 11/05 (28)
► 10/22 - 10/29 (37)
► 10/15 - 10/22 (41)
► 10/08 - 10/15 (36)
► 10/01 - 10/08 (15)
► 09/24 - 10/01 (27)
► 09/17 - 09/24 (20)
► 09/10 - 09/17 (12)
► 09/03 - 09/10 (18)
► 08/27 - 09/03 (19)
► 08/20 - 08/27 (19)
► 08/13 - 08/20 (30)
► 08/06 - 08/13 (29)
► 07/30 - 08/06 (45)
► 07/23 - 07/30 (30)
► 07/16 - 07/23 (34)
► 07/09 - 07/16 (35)
► 07/02 - 07/09 (23)
► 06/25 - 07/02 (28)
► 06/18 - 06/25 (22)
► 06/11 - 06/18 (28)
► 06/04 - 06/11 (26)
► 05/28 - 06/04 (17)
► 05/21 - 05/28 (19)
► 05/14 - 05/21 (23)
► 05/07 - 05/14 (17)
► 04/30 - 05/07 (28)
► 04/23 - 04/30 (10)
► 04/16 - 04/23 (23)
► 04/09 - 04/16 (24)
► 04/02 - 04/09 (23)
► 03/26 - 04/02 (21)
► 03/19 - 03/26 (23)
► 03/12 - 03/19 (10)
► 03/05 - 03/12 (17)
► 02/26 - 03/05 (28)
► 02/19 - 02/26 (14)
► 02/12 - 02/19 (10)
► 02/05 - 02/12 (7)
► 01/29 - 02/05 (5)
► 01/22 - 01/29 (3)
► 01/15 - 01/22 (8)
► 01/08 - 01/15 (3)
► 01/01 - 01/08 (6)
► 2005 (59)
► 12/25 - 01/01 (7)
► 12/18 - 12/25 (3)
► 12/11 - 12/18 (5)
► 12/04 - 12/11 (6)
► 11/27 - 12/04 (7)
► 11/20 - 11/27 (2)
► 11/13 - 11/20 (7)
► 11/06 - 11/13 (6)
► 10/30 - 11/06 (1)
► 10/23 - 10/30 (10)
► 10/16 - 10/23 (5)