BMF: The Rise and Fall of Big Meech and the Black Mafia Family
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“When my album comes out, all the dots will connect.” Jeezy, quoted March 12, 2005, in Billboard.
The Gucci–Jeezy beef. (a) “At the video shoot of Gucci Mane’s ‘Icy,’ ” April 14, 2005, Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (b) “Big Cat CEO Jacob York talks Gucci Mane arrest, says hip-hop cops gathering info,” July 25, 2005, AllHipHop.com. (c) Jeezy’s July 2005 interview with AllHipHop.com. (d) Interviews with attorneys Dennis Scheib and Ash Joshi, November 2006.
Club Money’s George “G. Money” Willis. (a) “The Year of Young Jeezy,” Jan. 1, 2006, The Macon Telegraph. (b) “Record label offering reward in shooting death of Macon rapper,” May 24, 2005, The Macon Telegraph.
Pookie Loc’s death. (a) DeKalb County, Ga., Department of Public Safety incident report, No. 05-064545. (b) “Record label offering reward in shooting death of Macon rapper,” May 24, 2005, The Macon Telegraph. (c) “Slain rapper was no stranger to law enforcement,” May 26, 2005, Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“I know they did it.” Radric “Gucci Mane” Davis, quoted by AllHipHop.com.
Gucci’s arrest. (a) “Rapper wanted in slaying turns self in,” May 20, 2005, Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (b) “Rapper in jail for weekend,” May 21, 2005. Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“They put out a contract on him.” Dennis Scheib, Gucci’s attorney, quoted May 25, 2005 in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution story “Rapper facing murder charge freed from jail.”
“Here’s the situation: Five guys came in. They were BMF.” Interviews with attorney Dennis Scheib, November 2006.
History of Loccish Lifestyle. Interviews with Carlos “Low Down” Rhodes, November 2006.
The birthday party stabbings. State of Georgia v. Marque Keimon Dixson, Superior Court of Fulton County, Ga., No. 05-SC-34097.
NINE: THE GATE
Catching O-Dog. (a) State of Georgia v. Omari McCree, et al, Superior Court of Fulton County, Ga., No. 05-SC-31397. (b) Interviews with Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Rand Csehy, October 2006 and March 2008.
“Dude is Meech.” From the statement given by Omari in the investigation State of Georgia v. Omari McCree, et al, Superior Court of Fulton County, Ga., No. 05-SC-31397.
Catching Kiki and his crew. (a) U.S. v. Tremayne Graham, et al, United States District Court, District of South Carolina, No. 03-CR-1092. (b) Free at Last Bail Bonds v. Kai Franklin Graham, United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Georgia, No. 05-6585. (b) U.S. v. Ernest Watkins, U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina, No. 0-962.
Catching Soup. (a) U.S. v. Jamad Ali, U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, No. 02-115. (b) Affidavit in Support of a Search Warrant, filed June 30, 2005, in Essex County, N.J. (c) U.S. v. Jamad Ali, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, No. 05-906. (d) U.S. v. Tremayne Graham, et al, United States District Court, District of South Carolina, No. 03-CR-1092.
TEN: THE GAME DON’T STOP
The traffic stop. (a) U.S. v. Terry Flenory, et al, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, No. 05-CR-80955. (b) U.S. v. Dionne Beverly, et al, United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, No. 07-CR-233.
“A ruthlessness no one can touch and a weariness no one can cure.” From the Dec. 25, 2005, New York Times story, “The year’s best albums and songs.”
Jeezy climbs the charts. From the Oct. 21, 2005, Billboardmonitor.com story, “Jeezy’s ‘Survivor’ story ends at No. 1.”
Closing in on Meech. (a) Affidavit for a search warrant for 5173 Brandywine Lane, Frisco, Texas, filed Oct. 20, 2005, in Collins County, Texas, Magistrate Court. (b) Affidavit for a search warrant for 5173 Brandywine Lane, Frisco, Texas, filed Oct. 20, 2005, in United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, No. 05-M-166. (c) U.S. v. Demetrius Flenory, United States District Court, Eastern District of Texas, No. 05-213.
Closing in on Terry. Terry Flenory, et al, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, No. 05-CR-80955.
Tonesa Welch. Welch, who was charged with conspiracy to distribute cocaine and to launder money, ultimately pleaded guilty only to the money-laundering charge.
ELEVEN: BREAKING THE CODE
Tailing Doc. (a) U.S. v. Dionne Beverly, et al, United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, No. 07-CR-233. (b) U.S. v. William Marshall, et al, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, No. 05-CR-188.
Disenchantment with the BMF investigation. Interviews with Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Rand Csehy, October 2006 and March 2008.
O-Dog gets cold feet. State of Georgia v. Omari McCree, et al, Superior Court of Fulton County, Ga., No. 05-SC-31397.
Terry’s guys talk. U.S. v. Terry Flenory, et al, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, No. 05-CR-80955.
“This is probably the highest-volume drug conspiracy in this district, ever.” Assistant U.S. Attroney Dawn Ison, at a January 2005 hearing for the case U.S. v. Terry Flenory, et al, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, No. 05-CR-80955.
Doc’s debriefings. (a) U.S. v. William Marshall, et al, United States District Court, Middle District of Florida, No. 05-CR-188. (b) U.S. v. Dionne Beverly, et al, United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, No. 07-CR-233. (c) Terry Flenory, et al, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, No. 05-CR-80955. (d) State of Georgia v. Fleming Daniels, Fulton County, Ga., Superior Court, No. 07-SC-56450.
Death of Baby Bleu. (a) Atlanta Police Department incident report, No. 06-068-0226. (b) State of Georgia v. Marque Keimon Dixson, Superior Court of Fulton County, Ga., No. 05-SC-34097.
Kiki’s deception. U.S. v. Tremayne Graham, et al, United States District Court, District of South Carolina, No. 03-CR-1092.
Catching Jacob. U.S. v. Terry Flenory, et al, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, No. 05-CR-80955.
“Ill goes ‘bang, bang, bang.’ ” Statement of William “Doc” Marshall, State of Georgia v. Fleming Daniels, Fulton County, Ga., Superior Court, No. 07-SC-56450.
Two mothers’ grief. (a) Interviews with Debbie Morgan, August 2004, January 2005, October 2006, and March 2008. (b) Interview with Katie Carter, May 2007.
Sin City’s sentencing’s. U.S. v. Tremayne Graham, et al, United States District Court, District of South Carolina, No. 03-CR-1092.
The case against Ernest. U.S. v. Ernest Watkins, U.S. District Court, District of South Carolina, No. 0-962.
Kai’s guilty plea. U.S. v. Kai Franklin Graham, United States District Court, District of South Carolina, No. 07-CR-517.
“Hopefully, this will reverberate throughout the department.” From the April 27, 2007, Atlanta Journal-Constitution story, “Deadly Deception: Two Atlanta cops plead guilty in woman’s death, blame pressure from police brass.”
TWELVE: THE EVIDENCE
Atlanta and L.A. indictments. (a) U.S. v. Dionne Beverly, et al, United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, No. 07-CR-233. (b) U.S. v. Kenyan Terrance Payne, Sr., et al, United States District Court, Central District of California, No. 07-CR-1215.
Atlanta’s changing cocaine landscape. (a) Interview with Fulton County Assistant District Attorney Rand Csehy, March 2008. (b) Interview with Jack Killorin, director of the Atlanta branch of the U.S. High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, July 2008.
“Drug dealers aren’t that stupid.” From the Oct. 14, 2007, Atlanta Journal-Constitution story, “Drug dealers beware: After hands-off year in wake of botched raid, APD’s reborn narcotics squad is ready to roll.”
“Most of the witnesses are specifically aimed at either one brother or the other.” Drew Findling, in a court document filed in U.S. v. Terry Flenory, et al, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, No. 05-CR-80955.
Change of heart. (a) U.S. v. Terry Flenory, et al, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, No. 05-CR-80955. (b) Interview with Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, March 5, 2008.
The brother meet. (a) U.S. v. Terry Flenory, et al, United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan, No. 05-CR-80955. (b) Interview with Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, March 5, 2008.
EPILOGUE
“It’s not like Bleu went against me.” Interview with Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, March 5, 2008.
Atlanta sentencings. U.S. v. Dionne Beverly, et al, United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, No. 07-CR-233.
Bleu’s debriefing. U.S. v. Dionne Beverly, et al, United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, No. 07-CR-233.
Allegation against Jeezy. Trial of Fleming “Ill” Daniels, June 12, 2008, U.S. v. Dionne Beverly, et al, United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, No. 07-CR-233.
The Flenorys’ sentencings. Sept. 12, 2008 sentencing hearing, U.S. v. Dionne Beverly, et al, United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, No. 07-CR-233.
INDEX
“A. R.”. See Boyd, Arnold
“Air Forces” (Jeezy), 66
AJC. See Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Akon (rapper), 1–2, 213
Ali, Jamad (“Soup”)
arrest of, 257–58
as fugitive, 202–5
murder by, 91, 203, 238, 241
protection of, 241
sentencing for, 258
allegiance, by BMF crew, 9, 52, 266
AllHipHop.com, 178
Allison, Rafael (“Smurf ”)
as cocaine trafficker, 116–17
HIDTA investigation of, 117–19
informant on, 117
wiretapping of, 117–18
Alt, Brian, 17. See also Chaos
American dream, drug trade and, 46–47
APD. See Atlanta Police Department
Arabo, Jacob
for celebrity jewelry, 53–54, 56, 172, 208–9, 226
Damon cover-up with, 54, 208–12, 243–44
DEA and, 210–12, 243
IRS Form 8300 and, 45, 53–54, 210, 244
money-laundering charge for, 244
sentencing for, 267
wife of, 54, 209–10
Atlanta
Bankhead in, 50, 116
the Bluffs in, 21, 50, 116–17, 260
Boulevard in, 50, 65–66, 116–17, 131–32, 185–86, 265
Buckhead in, 7, 49–50, 71, 73, 162, 228, 263–64
gentrifying of, 49–50
Magic City in, 51, 52
Atlanta
Mexican drug cartels in, 266
Pittsburgh in, 116–17
racism in, 7
stash houses in, 47, 50, 70–71, 114, 125, 127, 138, 139–41, 150–51, 161–62, 191–92, 216, 223, 225, 232, 233, 264, 267, 274
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC), 24, 144, 152, 178, 266
Atlanta Police Department (APD)
BMF contact inside, 133–34
Burns with, 21–23, 69, 73, 115, 117, 222, 231, 234, 246, 261–62
Chaos shootings and, 8, 17–19, 24–25, 64, 82, 162, 207, 215, 222, 246–48, 264
corruption in, 260–61
Hackett/Carter homicide for, 143–44
HIDTA and, 122
Johnston case for, 260–61, 265
search warrants by, 260–61, 265–66
undercover operation by, 21
Atrium (club), 112–15, 123–24, 125, 129–31, 174
“Baa.” See Garrett, Richard
“Baby Bleu.” See Dixson, Marque
Babylon (club), 131, 215
Bad Boy Entertainment. See Bad Boy Records
Bad Boy Records, 8, 30, 56, 66, 207
Bagmania. See Franklin & Wilson Concessions
Banda, Carlos, 266
Bankhead, in Atlanta, 50, 116
banking, for money-laundering, 44
Barkley, Charles, 87, 154, 156
Barrow, Jamal (“Shyne”), 8–9
Beckham, David, 53
Being Bobby Brown (television), 179
Bell, Bob, 227
Bennett, J. Bradley, 253–54
BET. See Black Entertainment Television
Betancourt, Rolando, 153–55, 192–98. See also Free at Last Bail Bonds
Big Cat Records, 170, 172, 178
Big Gipp (rapper), 63
Biggie-Tupac battle, 173
Bijoux-Terner. See Franklin & Wilson Concessions
Billboard, 212, 214
billboards, BMF, 71, 73, 162, 228, 264
Bivens, Eric (“Slim”)
as government witness, 268
indictment for, 244
Meech impersonation by, 31–33, 42–43, 54, 219
responsibilities of, 206–7
in Terry’s crew, 150, 206–9, 224, 232
at White House, 226, 232
Black (friend of Prince), 78–83
Black Entertainment Television (BET), 171, 177
Black Mafia Family (BMF)
APD contact for, 133–34
apprehension of, 3
B. Brown and, 180–82
billboards by, 71, 73, 162, 228, 264
as business model, 40–42, 48–49
cars for, 3, 5, 21–23, 29, 39–40, 43–44, 55–56, 57, 66, 73, 78–79, 94, 95–96, 207, 215, 216, 220, 223, 224, 230, 232, 244, 245, 253
code of silence by, 82, 115, 224, 228, 265, 268, 272
DEA investigation into, 214–15
defections from, 90
drug transportation by, 26–30, 39–40, 101–3, 226
ecstasy for, 6, 67–68, 216
evidence of, 73
family for, 2, 33, 239
FBI investigation into, 214
as graffiti, 267
hierarchy within, 41–42
IRS investigation into, 214, 226
Jeezy and profile of, 68
loyalty to, 45, 246
as medallion, 21, 52–54, 55
Morgan offer by, 83, 248
myth of, 73, 214, 267
partying by, 52, 64, 69, 113, 161, 166, 179–80, 191, 215, 223
Pookie Loc murder and, 178–79
publicity by, 67, 71, 73, 162, 228, 245, 264
raining cash by, 67
rumors about, 71–72
Sin City Mafia alliance with, 89
St. Louis cell for, 43, 57–58, 132, 217, 230, 264
stash houses of, 47, 50, 70–71, 114, 125, 127, 138, 139–41, 150–51, 161–62, 191–92, 216, 223, 225, 232, 233, 264, 267, 274
succession to, 267
surveillance of, 11, 23, 100, 117–21, 124–26, 133–35, 138, 156, 159, 188, 192–93, 198–99, 203, 214
as tattoo, 16, 45, 52–53, 275
wiretapping of, 11, 58, 73–74, 98, 117–18
“Blank.” See Johnson, Benjamin
Blazin’ Saddles (club), 176
“Bleu DaVinci.” See McKnight, Barima bling
Arabo for, 53–54, 56, 172, 208–9, 226
“icy” as, 172
for Jeezy video shoot, 207–9
for rappers, 169–70
transportation of, 101–2, 106, 147, 148, 207, 237, 254
Blood Raw (rappers), 172
Bloods (gang), 52
the Bluffs, drug trade in, 21, 50, 116–17, 260
BMF. See Black Mafia Family
BMF Entertainment
billboards for, 71, 73, 162, 228, 264
Bleu DaVinci for, 61–65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 84, 97, 162–67, 180, 213, 227–29, 245, 264–65, 273
The Juice by, 213, 245
McKnight running of, 264–65
by Meech, 62–63, 97, 227
at Velvet Room, 84
“We Still Here” by, 61, 67, 69, 97, 163–67, 180
bodyguards
for Meech, 5
for “P. Diddy,” 8, 224
Bogard Records, 97, 150. See also Platinum Recording