US president Joe Biden has officially pardoned Terry ‘Southwest T’ Flenory, the co-founder of the organisation Black Mafia Family (BMF).
Flenory was sentenced to 30 years in prison in 2008 after prosecutors argued that he and his brother Demetrius ‘Big Meech’ Flenory had made over $270million (£215million) from BMF’s nationwide crime ring that involved money laundering and drug trafficking.
The Flenory brother pleaded guilty to running a continuing criminal enterprise, with Demetrius serving out his sentence and being released to a halfway house in October this year. Terry was released to home confinement in May 2020 after being granted compassionate release due to ill health and to limit the spread of COVID-19 in prisons.
Now, Terry has confirmed that he has been granted official notice of his pardon in a post on his Instagram page that also showed him having his ankle monitor removed.
“Now It’s official!” he wrote in the caption. Tagging in his brother, he continued: “I understand you were excited, so last week you let the cat out the bag. It’s been a journey, but prayer and unwavering faith beyond mere human comprehension got us to this point. Never once acted in my own ability, nor doing anything to anyone to help myself. So, the gloves are off the gag orders are up and all the naysayers have to suck it up.”
The Detroit-based BMF became a significantly influential force on hip-hop culture in the 2000s, boosting the careers of artists such as Young Jeezy and T.I. The brothers also came to embody the rich excesses of the hip-hop lifestyle, blurring the lines between street culture, mainstream music and commercial branding.
Since 2021, BMF, a drama series based on their lives, has been airing on Starz in the US, with the third season airing in February this year. It stars Demetrius Flenory Jr. as his father and Da’Vinchi as Terry.