LeBron James upset NBA fans Thursday when he congratulated a convicted drug trafficker on his release from prison.
Demetrius ‘Big Meech’ Flenory, co-founder of the notorious Black Mafia Family (BMF) drug trafficking organization, was transferred this week to a residential halfway house program in Miami, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
And after the news broke, Lakers star James took to social media to write ‘Welcome home, Big Meech!!’ with a greeting emoji.
Given Flenory’s criminal record (he was originally sentenced to 30 years in prison following a 2008 conviction for drug trafficking and money laundering), many fans criticized James’ post.
“Glorifying the wrong people,” one wrote.
LeBron James criticized for hosting convicted drug dealer at home from prison
Demetrius Flenory was sentenced to 30 years in prison for setting up a criminal enterprise
‘Lebron supports drug dealers?!?!?!?! “It’s not my goat,” added another.
“You’re so desperate to look cool it’s pathetic,” another wrote.
A fourth referenced James’ countless endorsement deals and said: ‘Calm down Bron. You have sponsors.
Flenory had founded BMF in 1985 as a creative agency and music label with his brother, Terry Lee, also known as ‘Southwest Tee’, and hip hop culture embraced the pair.
However, federal agents determined in 2000 that the company was a front for a national cocaine trafficking and money laundering scheme, in which the brothers raised more than $270 million.
The DEA subsequently carried out a large-scale raid in 2005, arresting 30 members of the operation.
The Flenory brothers ultimately pleaded guilty to running an ongoing criminal enterprise “involving the large-scale distribution of cocaine throughout the United States from 1990 to 2005,” according to court documents.
He had founded Big Mafia Family, also known as BMF, in 1985 as a creative agency and hip hop label with his brother, Terry Lee, also known as ‘Southwest Tee’.
His son, Demetrius Flenory Jr, later played him in the Starz television series ‘BMF’.
The brothers’ story was later brought to television on Starz by rapper 50 Cent, in an eight-episode series ‘BMF’ in 2021. The series, which aired two more seasons, delves into the backstory of the brothers. brothers in the 1980s when they emerged from inner-city Detroit to become wealthy drug lords embraced by hip-hop culture.
Brittany K. Barnett, who represented Flenory, says she “used her time in prison to focus on personal growth and transformation, and now has the opportunity to begin a new chapter.”
“It’s out, but millions more are still trapped inside; there’s still a lot of work to do.” We need to push for real change, a justice system that recognizes the dignity and redemptive potential of every individual.’
Flenory’s sentence ends on Jan. 27, 2026, according to the federal prison website.
