Terry Flenory, a former notorious drug dealer and co-founder of the Black Mafia Family (BMF), is still alive and currently serving his remaining jail sentence in home confinement.
Terry has since been relocated to his hometown, Detroit, where he, along with his brother Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, built BMF into a multimillion-dollar drug empire, gaining notoriety for their luxurious lifestyle. In 2021, he was rumored to have been shot in the eye following an altercation with a rival gang. The information remains false, as being in home confinement means he has restricted movement and cannot move away from a certain geofenced area. So why was Terry rumored to have been shot? Let’s find out together.
Summary of Terry Flenory’s Biography
- Full name: Terry Lee Flenory
- Nickname: Southwest T
- Gender: Male
- Date of birth: 10th January 1970
- Terry Flenory’s Age: 54 years old
- Ethnicity: African American
- Nationality: American
- Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
- Sexual Orientation: Straight
- Religion: Christianity
- Marital Status: Single
- Terry Flenory’s Parents: Lucille and Charles Flenory
- Siblings: Demetrius Edward aka “Big Meech” and Nicole Flenory
- Terry Flenory’s Height in Inches: 5 feet 8 inches
- Terry Flenory’s Height in Centimetres: 173 cm
- Terry Flenory’s Weight: 80 kg (176 pounds)
- Terry Flenory’s Net worth: $40 Million
- Famous for: Former Drug Lord
- Terry Flenory’s Instagram: @southwest263
How Old Is Terry Flenory and Where Was He Born?
Terry Flenory was born on the 10th day of January 1970 in his home country, Detroit, Michigan, United States of America. He is currently 54 years old. Terry was born into a family with African American heritage; his parents Charles Flenory, father, and Lucille Shelle, mother, are African American.
Not much information is known about Terry’s parents’ relationship, but it is believed that they met and got married sometime in the 1960s. His parents are no longer together, as reports have it that Charles Flenory passed away in July 2017. The cause of Terry’s father’s death is unknown. However, he is still being remembered by his family members.
Terry grew up in Detroit with his parents and two siblings, Demetrius Edward aka Big Meech, and Nicole Flenory (sister). Nicole is an actress and is known for her recurring character on the Starz original crime drama BMF, wherein she is portrayed as Laila Pruitt. He has a nephew named Demetrius Flenory Jr. (Big Meech’s son), who is a well-known American actor and rapper.
Not much has been revealed about his educational journey. However, it is reported that he is a high school graduate. Little is known about where and when he had and completed his high school education. Some sources have reported that he completed his high school education at the same college as his brother.
Where is Terry Flenory Now?
Terry Lee Flenory, who rose to fame as one of the founders of The Black Mafia Family (BMF), remains in home confinement in continuation of the remainder of his 30-year jail sentence. It is no news that Terry Flenory was released to home confinement on May 5, 2020, after being granted a compassionate release due to health ailments. His brother, Big Meech, was not so lucky to get the same treatment.
He is very much alive, regardless of the rumors going around in the media. The 55 year-old can be found on Instagram with over 600k followers, where he shares pictures of how well he is doing. Although he remains on house arrest, Terry still maintains his clothing line business and uses his social media platforms to promote his [roduct, while keeping up with his fans.
Terry Lee’s Relationship with His Brother, Big Meech
Terry is approximately two years younger than his brother Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, born on June 21, 1968. Big Meech is currently 55 years old and doing a 30-year jail term in a federal prison in America. Much has been said about the status of the brother’s current relationship, with many reports overly assuming that the brothers are not on good terms.
Be that as it may, the two brothers were known to have had a close relationship and worked together in the building and expansion of the BMF empire during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Terry and Big Meech founded BMF in Detroit, Michigan, and later moved their operations to Atlanta, Georgia. They became known for their extravagant lifestyle, featuring luxury cars, mansions, and parties attended by celebrities.
The organization grew to become one of the largest and most influential drug trafficking networks in the United States, with connections to various street gangs and drug cartels. However, in 2005, Terry and Big Meech were arrested and charged with multiple federal crimes, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and conspiracy to commit murder. In 2008, both brothers reached a plea agreement with prosecutors. Terry, alongside his brother Big Meech, were both sentenced to 30 years in federal prison.
In terms of their relationship, Terry and Big Meech were not only brothers but also business partners. They worked closely together to build and manage the BMF organization, collaborating on major decisions and overseeing operations. Their shared vision and complementary skills were instrumental in the success of the drug empire they created. However, due to their legal troubles and subsequent imprisonment, their relationship may have likely undergone significant strain.
Terry Flenory Played a Major in Their Drug Trafficking and Money Laundering Business
Terry Flenory, also known as Southwest T, was deeply involved in his family’s drug business throughout the 1980s and 1990s. Along with his brother Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory, Terry started a drug trafficking business during their high school days. They were initially known as ’50 BOYZ because they were selling small bags of cocaine for $50 on the streets of Detroit.
Then in 1985, they jointly founded The Black Mafia Family (BMF) and began its operation in Detroit, Michigan, USA. While Big Meech was the strategist, Terry saw to the organization’s operation. BMF became one of the largest and most influential drug cartels in American history, operating primarily in Atlanta, Georgia, and other major cities across the United States.
As the chief of operations, Terry’s role included transporting and distributing massive amounts of cocaine and other illegal drugs. By the year 2000, the duo had well-established cocaine distribution sales in the state via their direct connections to Mexican drug cartels. With a wide chain network and a large staff to supervise, they had to create a branch in Los Angeles. While Big Meech was in charge of the one in Atlanta for distribution, Terry Lee was running the one in Los Angeles, which handles incoming shipments from Mexico.
As of the early 2000s, the organization had become richer and more popular. However, it had a negative reputation and was already drawing attention from law enforcers. So, in a bid to front-cover the business, they went into the music industry with the name BMF Entertainment. Their primary aim was to serve as a front organization so they would be able to clean their money from cocaine sales. Reports had it that it was at this moment that the brothers began to experience disputes up to the point of their arrest in 2005.
What Led To Terry’s Arrest and the Charges Leveled Against Him
Terry, along with his brother’s arrest, did not come as a surprise to many, as there was already an initial crackdown on the organization where 17 members were arrested. The DEA had gathered enough evidence to make sure they nailed the two brothers, with most of that evidence gotten Terry’s wire-tapped conversations.
With no knowledge that he was being listened to, Terry Flenory had said a lot of implicative statements that were used to tie him and his brother to the crimes to be leveled against them.
The government already had nearly 900 pages of transcripts of wiretapped talks from his phone by the time charges were brought against them in 2005. Terry and his brother admitted to all charges brought against them, and in September 2008, they were given a 30-year prison term for their roles in a nationwide cocaine trafficking organization that operated between 2000 and 2005.
Terry served twelve years in jail before being given a compassionate release on May 5, 2020, to be placed in home confinement due to his bad health and the rising prevalence of illnesses in prison as a whole. The Federal Bureau of Prisons made an effort to release some prisoners to stop the coronavirus pandemic from spreading among inmates.
Big Meech, who was still incarcerated at the Federal Correcal Institution in Sheridan, was not as fortunate to receive the same treatment as his brother. He also requested parole under the same conditions, but a federal government judge denied the application, stating that it would be premature to approve his release because his prison records reveal no change in him. He is scheduled for release on May 5, 2029.
Did Terry Flenory Snitch on His Brother Big Meech?
The answer to the question remains No. Be that as it may, during their trial, several rumors circulated that Terry had cooperated with federal authorities and testified against his brother, leading to his conviction. Multiple media sources confirmed that it was two former members who were responsible for leaking information that led to the organization’s crackdown.
In recent times, the reduction of Terry Lee Flenory’s jail time to home confinement has yet again resurfaced the rumor that he did snitch on his brother as many are beginning to raise eyebrows. The assumptions are that Terry’s early release may have been a result of the deal he may have made years back during the trial. However, with limited publicly available information, it is difficult to confirm or deny these allegations definitively.
It is crucial to note that “snitching,” or working with the police, is a delicate and contentious subject. It isn’t easy to establish for sure if Terry Flenory offered information against his brother or not without specific proof or reliable sources.
Terry was Alleged To Be Married To Tonesa Welch Who was Also a Member of The BMF
Terry Flenory’s personal life, especially the aspect of his relationship, has never been publicly talked about by 54-year-old convict. However, he is rumored to be married to Tonesa Welch, who is widely known as the Black Mafia Family’s first lady. In reality, there is no adherence to or proof that the drug dealer is wedded or has never been married. He is also not known to In a similar vein, he is not known to be a parent.
Although there was no marriage tie between them, Terry Flenory and Tonesa Welch were said to be in a long-term relationship before the crack in the business. They met in the late 1990s and were together until 2005 when Terry and his brother were all arrested and charged with money laundering and cocaine trafficking. Tonesa was fully part of the business, which she joined when she was just 19 years old.
Tonesa was also arrested and jailed alongside Big Meech and Terry in 2008 but was released in 2012 after serving her four-year jail term. According to some sources, she reportedly works in jail change, where she assists other women who are afterward detained by helping them with their resumes and teaching them about clothing and the law.
She is also involved in a reality TV show known as Notorious Queens, which talks about four strong and proud women who try to move on from their “notorious” past lives. While Terry continues to serve the remainder of his sentence in home confinement, Toni Welch has moved away from everything about her former life. It is still unconfirmed if they reignited their lost flame, but the two are forever linked by the son they had while they were together.
He was Shot in the Face, But That Was Many Years Ago.
Terry Flenory is still very much alive, despite the claims and conjectures that are going around the internet claiming he passed away after being shot sometime in 2021. The Detroit-born former drug lord was said to have been shot by another drug lord named Layton Simon in real life.
Terry was shot in the eye, but he survived the shot. However, there is no evidence to show that he was shot in real life. The said event was captured in the STARZ drama series BMF, which depicts the real-life events of the brothers. In episode one of the season of the TV drama, Terry was shot in the face by a rival drug lord, Lamar Silas.
The episode aired sometime around 2021, and somehow, it became a round for rumor that Terry was shot in the eye and died from the shot. There is no official information from the United States government security agencies that has confirmed that Terry was shot in 2021, which makes the information of his being shot false.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Terry Flenory still in jail?
No, Terry Flenory has not been in jail since May 5th, 2020. He is serving his prison sentence in home confinement.
2. Where is Terry Flenory Now?
Terry Flenory is in the city of Detroit, Michigan, where he is serving the remainder of his prison term under house arrest.
3. Is Terry Flenory involved in BMF?
Terry Flenory is not involved in the STARZ TV series BMF. However, the TV series retells the story of how Terry and his brother built an empire of one of the biggest drug businesses in the United States.
4. When did Terry Flenory Pass Away?
Terry is still alive and is in Detroit, where he continues to serve the remainder of his 30-year prison sentence in home confinement.
5. Was Terry Flenory Shot in the Head?
Yes, Terry was shot in the face. Although he survived the shot, he sustained damage to his eye.