Terry Lee Flenory’s biography: who is Big Meech’s brother?
Terry Lee Flenory, also known as Southwest Tee, is the co-founder of one of the largest criminal enterprises in America. Terry Lee and his brother Demetrius Edward “Big Meech” Flenory founded the Black Mafia Family a drug trafficking and money laundering criminal empire.
Source: Instagram
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Terry Lee gained public interest after the premier of the BMF (Black Mafia Family) TV show on Starz. The series follows dealings and activities of the the Black Mafia Family, the criminal empire Terry Lee and his brother Big Meech founded.
Profile summary
| Full name | Terry Lee Flenory |
| Nickname | Southwest T |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 10th January 1970 |
| Age | 54 years old (as of 2024) |
| Place of birth | Detroit, Michigan, United States of America |
| Current residence | Detroit, Michigan, United States of America |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | African-American |
| Zodiac sign | Capricorn |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (173 cm) |
| Weight | 220lb (100kg) |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Dark brown |
| Relationship status | In a relationship |
| Partner | Tonesa Welch |
| Known children | 2 |
| Father | Charles |
| Mother | Lucille |
| Siblings | 2 |
| Profession | Businessman and music executive |
| Southwest T's Instagram | @southwest263 |
Terry Lee Flenory's Biography
Terry Lee Flenory was born in January 10 1970 in Detroit Michigan, United States. Terry Lee alias Southwest Tee is the co-founder of the Black Mafia Family, one of America’s largest drug trafficking empires in the late 90s and early 2000s. He also co-founded BMF Entertainment, a hip-hop record label with his brother Big Meech.
BMF Entertainment was initially created to launder money generated from drug sales but also became a legitimate and successful business. At the peak of BMF Entertainment, Terry Lee Flenory and his bother Big Meech were associated with famous hip hop artists like Jay Z, DIDDY, Young Jeezy and T.I.
Source: Instagram
Terry Lee Flenory's Family
Terry Lee Flenory is the second of three Flenory siblings. His older brother is Demetrius Edward “Big Meech” Flenory, while his younger sister is Nicole Flenory.
Terry's father is Charles Flenory, was a carpenter, guitarist and songwriter. He is famous for being the writer for the hit sing Jump for Joy by Campbell Brothers. His exceptional skills in music led to him being inducted into the Sacred Steel Hall of Fame in Ohio, USA.
His mother, Lucille, is the CEO of Building More Families in Detroit, Michigan. Terry has two children, a son Terry Lee Jr. and a daughter.
Terry Lee Flenory's wife
There are no indications that Southwest Tee is married. However, he has been in a long-term relationship with Tonesa Welch, a prison reform advocate and life coach.
Terry Lee Flenory's son
Terry from BMF has one known child, a son named Terry Lee Flenory Jr. Terry often posts his son on Instagram and is a proud father. Terry Lee Flenory Jr’s age is 35 years old as of 2024.
Who is Terry Flenory Jr’s mother?
Terry Lee Flenory Jr's mother is Rhonda Major. Terry Lee shared on Instagram that Rhonda is also the mother to his daughter. It remains unclear whether he has other kids besides the two.
Why is Terry Lee Flenory famous?
Southwest T and his brother Big Meech are known as the founders of the Black Mafia Family, a drug trafficking and money laundering enterprise in America. The Black Mafia Family is said to have been one of the largest criminal empires in the United States of America. Prosecutors allege that the Black Mafia Family made over $270 million throughout their entire operations.
Terry Lee Flenory rose to global fame when the TV Show BMF (Black Mafia Family) premiered on Starz in 2021. The show is loosely based on the activities of the Black Mafia Family and is co-written and produced by Terry’s younger sister, Nicole Flenory.
Following the immense success of the show, fans were left wondering what happened to Terry Lee Flenory.
The Black Mafia Family
Terry Lee and Big Meech grew up poor and were forced to go to the streets to get food. This led them to begin selling drugs on the streets of Detroit while in high school in the late 1980s. They started by selling $50 bags of drugs and formed their group “50 Boyz”.
Their business had grown immensely by 2000 into a large organization that oversaw multi-kilograms of hard drug distribution in many U.S. States. At their peak, it is estimated that they had a nationwide membership of over 500.
In 2003, Terry Lee had a falling out with his brother Big Meech after a feud. This led to him moving to Los Angeles to head his own organization while Big Meech stayed at the main centre in Atlanta.
At this point, the DEA was already investigating the two brothers and had tapped their phone calls. The police began investigating the Black Mafia Family in the late 1990s. In October 2005, the police conducted a massive drug raid and arrested about 30 members of the BMF.
Terry Lee Flenory and Demetrius Flenory alias Big Meech were charged with operating a criminal enterprise. In 2007, the two brothers pleaded guilty to running a continuing criminal enterprise and were sentenced to 30 years in prison.
How did Terry Lee Flenory get an eye Injury?
Southwest T allegedly survived a shooting in October 2021 when unidentified people shot him. He was allegedly shot in the eye during a fight with a rival gang in Detroit, Michigan, United States of America.
Terry Flenory’s net worth
Although it is apparent that the businessman is wealthy, there are no official records of his net worth. Big Meech's net worth is $500k. His wealth is largely attributed to his music business, apparel sales, and the sale of illegal substances.
Where is Terry Lee Flenory now?
Southwest T is currently under home confinement. Initially, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
However, he was released on 5th May 2020 before serving his full term due to the increased spread of Coronavirus in American prisons.
He is an offender under home confinement, meaning he spends most hours of the day in a specific home. He can only leave the premises under the stated exceptions for food shopping, school, work, medical treatment, or religious services.
His brother, Big Meech, is still completing his term in prison.
Trivia
- Southwest T's fallout with his brother Big Meech was because he felt that his brother was bringing too much attention to their business with his partying.
- Southwest T believes surrounding oneself with positive people is crucial for a happy life.
- He is actively involved in youth mentorship.
- He is good friends with rapper 50 Cent.
Terry Flenory now, the Black Mafia Family co-founder, is spending his time under house arrest. He is active on Instagram sharing tidbits about his life and promoting the Starz's BMF.
Legit.ng recently published the biography of Nicole Flenory, the younger sister of Terry Lee Flenory and Demetrius Flenory. Nicole is a mother of two and the TV producer of the BMF show on Starz.
She is a devoted mother and a successful career woman who stays away from the spotlight. Find out why she wasn’t involved in the criminal dealings of her two brothers.
Source: Legit.ng
Muhunya Muhonji (Lifestyle writer) Muhunya is a graduate of Agricultural Economics from Egerton University, Class of 2014, with a passion for storytelling and content creation. Since joining Legit.ng as a writer in July 2021, he has covered diverse topics such as entertainment, technology, business, and biographies. His journalism journey has seen him complete multiple professional courses, including the AFP Digital Investigation Techniques course (2023), the Google News Initiative course (March 2024), and Fact-Checking and Research training (September 2024). Email: muhunyah@gmail.com
Cyprine Apindi (Lifestyle writer) Cyprine Apindi is a content creator and educator with over six years of experience. She holds a Diploma in Mass Communication and a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Kenyatta University. Cyprine joined Briefly.co.za in mid-2021, covering multiple topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. In 2023, she finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She received the 2023 Writer of the Year Award. In 2024, she completed the Google News Initiative course. Email: cyprineapindi@gmail.com
