From Hip-Hop and Rap Videos to Prison
| From Hip-Hop and Rap Videos to Prison |
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| Written by Robert ID2052 |
| Friday, 28 October 2005 20:21 |
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Members of one of the largest drug running gangs in Michigan are facing charges after being arrested by DEA agents. The gang, known among the hip-hop and rap community as "The Black Mafia Family" (BMF), is accused of selling more than $250 million of cocaine and then hiding their profits. "The Black Mafia Family," (BMF) says DEA Special Agent Robert Corso "they were, in fact, just another bunch of thugs who brought fear, intimidation and violence to the streets of Detroit." DEA agents say the Flennery brothers, who were the head of the gang, had appeared in several hip-hop and rap music videos, they are linked to hip-hop entrepreneur and sometimes rap artist Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs, and were also profiled in the MTV show Cribs. 25 members have been indicted from this investigation that lasted more than 10 years and spread throughout many states. Police have 23 of them are in custody and are still seeking to locate the other two. Investigators said money, property and drugs turned the men into literal celebrities of the underworld and among the hip-hop community. Investigators reported the gang used various means to launder more than $270 million. U.S. Attorney Stephen Murphy, described one scheme using lottery tickets, "They purchased the tickets for small amounts of money from the individuals. Then they took drug proceeds and deposited them in bank accounts to make it look as if they had won the cash from the lottery. When, in fact, the cash they were depositing were drug proceeds." The gang members are now facing 30 years to life in prison. |
