Drug kingpin Demetrius 'Big Mitch' Flannery leaves federal prison for residential program in Miami

MIAMI (AP) – Demetrius “Big Mitch” Flannery, who co-founded the notorious drug-trafficking organization Black mafia familyHe will serve the rest of his sentence in a residential re-entry program in Miami, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Flannery, 56, was originally sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty in 2008 to drug trafficking and money laundering. He recently transferred to a residential program in Miami.

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson first brought the story of Flannery and his brother Terry Flannery to “BMF,” an eight-episode series in 2021. They emerged from inner-city Detroit to become wealthy drug lords embraced by hip-hop culture.

Brittany K. Barnett, who represented Flannery and co-founded the Buried Alive Project, said Thursday that he was “overjoyed” to finally be free after nearly 20 years in prison.

“He used his time in prison to focus on personal growth and transformation, and now he has the opportunity to start a new chapter,” he said in a statement. “He's out, but millions more are trapped inside — there's still a lot of work to be done. We must push for real change, for a justice system that recognizes the dignity and potential for redemption in every person.”

Demetrius Flannery was arrested in 2005. His sentence ends on Jan. 27, 2026, according to the federal prison website. Until then, he will be monitored by Miami's Residential Reentry Center, which is responsible for providing community-based services to assist federal offenders with their reentry needs.

Terry Flannery, 54, is serving his sentence on similar charges at a residential re-entry center in Detroit. His release date is Aug. 17, 2025, according to the federal prison website.