Big Meech’s brother, Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, was released from prison in May 2020. He was granted compassionate release due to the COVID-19 pandemic and concerns about his health.
Terry Flenory, alongside his brother Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, co-founded the Black Mafia Family (BMF), a drug trafficking and money laundering organization that operated in the United States from the late 1980s until the 2000s. In 2005, both brothers were arrested and subsequently convicted on charges related to their criminal enterprise. They were each sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.
While Big Meech remains incarcerated, Terry Flenory’s situation changed in 2020. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal prison system began considering the release of certain non-violent offenders, particularly those with underlying health conditions that could make them more vulnerable to the virus. Terry Flenory, who had served about half of his sentence by that time, was deemed eligible for compassionate release. His release was also influenced by his record of good behavior while incarcerated and the support he received from family and community members.
Upon his release, Terry Flenory was placed on home confinement to serve the remainder of his sentence. His release was met with a mix of reactions, with some people expressing concern about the message it might send regarding the consequences of criminal activity, while others saw it as a just decision in light of the extraordinary circumstances posed by the pandemic. Terry’s release also reignited interest in the story of the Black Mafia Family, which has been depicted in various media, including a television series that dramatizes the rise and fall of the BMF empire.