LL Cool J Wants Big Meech and Southwest T to Receive a Pardon

If you've been on Facebook or Instagram over the past couple of years, you've probably seen the meme or faux news story that says President Barack Obama pardoned convicted drug kingpin Demetrius "Big Meech" Flenory, head of the infamous Black Mafia Family. While that info is totally false, there are some people who feel strongly that Meech and his brother Terry "Southwest T" Flenory should be pardoned by POTUS before he leaves The White House. One person is LL Cool J.

According to the government, The Black Mafia family was a highly sophisticated, multi-million dollar drug operation that started in Detroit in the 1990s and spread to several states throughout the U.S.

At the height of their powers, in the the mid-2000s, the group had set up shop in Atlanta. Shortly after starting a record label that helped push the careers of acts like Jeezy and Bleu Da Vinci, the organization was taken down in a huge sting operation. In 2005, both brothers were sentenced to 30 years in prison after they plead guilty to running a continuing criminal enterprise.

According to Ladies Love Cool James, the two men should be released.

Todd expressed his feelings on the matter on Instagram via a lengthy caption. Posting a picture of Meech and T in their early days of hustling, LL laid down his reasoning.

"I think these two guys who are both products of my generation could do a lot of good in the community if they were pardoned," he started. "They were incarcerated for non violent drug offenses. If they were pardoned I'm sure they would do the right thing. It's a matter of character. From the outside looking in I think they both have it."

He continued, "Although they set what some would call a negative example I think the second chapter of their lives could potentially bring a lot of healing and inspiration to a down trodden community and show all our citizens that the USA is a country where second chances are possible."

Smith goes on to reveal his empathy for the brothers comes from them having similar backgrounds as him. "I don't condone what they did but I understand why they did it," he explained. "The inner city is a rough place to be born and raised. Temptation is everywhere tempting us to find a fast way to escape poverty. This is nothing new, but still very true. I really think these guys along with some of the guys they were incarcerated with should have their cases reviewed. They should receive either a full pardon or at a minimum a sentence reduction. 30 years for a 'non violent' charge no matter how large the case may be; Still feels heavy handed to me. Let's all hope it happens for them. Keep your heads up fellas. I'm praying for you. I love our country. I believe this would be a just decision. Pardon Meech and Terry Flenory."

Both men are currently scheduled to be released in December 2031.

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