*LeBron James sparked controversy on social media by celebrating the prison release of Black Mafia Family co-founder Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory.
“Welcome home Big Meech!!” James wrote on Oct. 17 on X (formerly known as Twitter). Flenory was sentenced to 30 years in 2008 after his 2005 arrest for his role in drug trafficking and money laundering. He is now out of prison after being transferred to a halfway house in Florida.
In comments to LeBron’s post, one X user wrote, “Welcome home a murder, killer of KIDS THROUGH DRUGS, killer of countless mothers, fathers hand FAMILIES”. You want to fit in so bad, wanna be hip and cool so bad that you just follow whatever is deemed cool at the moment. Shame on you. Grow tf up.”
Another added, “Lmao grow up nigga. Didn’t you read that Malcolm X book? You think he would’ve wanted you to welcome him home?”
A third commented, “The kids that didn’t know who big meech was and now look him up will see that Lebron likes em so what he did must’ve not been that bad. Then the cycle continues.”
We reported earlier that Big Meech was moved to a halfway house after serving years in federal prison. Per Complex, he was “transferred from the Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) Coleman Low to community confinement, which is overseen by the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Miami Residential Reentry Management (RRM) Office,” the outlet writes. This means Big Meech will be placed in either home confinement or a Residential Reentry Center (AKA a halfway house).
Flenory was sentenced to 30 years in 2008 after his 2005 arrest for his role in drug trafficking and money laundering. His sentence was reduced by nearly three years earlier this year, leading to his transfer on Oct. 15. He is expected to be released on Jan. 27, 2026.
According to TMZ, Big Meech “has supervised release for 5 years with some special conditions … namely, participating in a substance abuse program which may include drug and alcohol testing,” the outlet writes.
“Two decades is an incredibly long time, and it’s been inspiring to witness the power of hope and resilience,” Flenory’s attorney, Brittany K. Barnett, said in a statement.
“He used his time in prison to focus on personal growth and transformation, and now he has the opportunity to begin a new chapter,” the lawyer said.
“He’s out, but millions more remain trapped inside – there’s still so much work to be done,” Barnett continued. “We need to push for real change, for a justice system that recognizes the dignity and potential for redemption in every individual. Our commitment to challenging the injustices that still exist within the criminal legal system remains unwavering. There is nothing more urgent than freedom.”
Big Meech and his brother Terry Lee “Southwest Tee” Flenory founded BMF in 1985 as a creative agency and Hip-Hop label. They are said to have generated over $270 million from cocaine sales throughout the United States.
Meanwhile, according to The Associated Press, Terry, 54, is serving out his sentence on similar charges at a residential reentry center in Detroit. He has a release date of Aug. 17, 2025.
READ MORE FROM EURWEB.COM: Big Meech Released to Halfway House in Florida
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