BMF: The book and the movie
November 27, 2007 at 2:35 pm by Scott Freeman in BMF, NewsCL Senior Writer Mara Shalhoup has inked a deal with St. Martin’s Press for a book on the Black Mafia Family, based on her award-winning series of stories published over the past 12 months. She has also sold a movie option to Grand Hustle Films, the production company owned by rapper T.I.
“To be able to expand this series into a book is an awesome opportunity,” Shalhoup says. “I also think the story couldn’t be better suited to the big screen. Both St. Martin’s Press and Grand Hustle Films have expressed much enthusiasm for the project, and I’m grateful for their interest.”
Two brothers — Demetrius “Big Meech†Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory — have pleaded guilty to being the BMF kingpins.
Meech — who was a well-known player on the Atlanta club scene — pleaded guilty Nov. 19 in Detroit to laundering drug money and running a continuing criminal enterprise. His brother, who was based in Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to the same charges a day later. The pleas ended a 15-year investigation into their role in the $270 million multistate cocaine ring that BMF was accused of operating.
To date, more than 150 alleged BMF associates have been charged in more than a dozen indictments in at least seven states. BMF associates have been arrested in connection with at least three violent attacks in Atlanta, including the 2004 shooting in the parking lot of a Midtown club with which Fleming “Ill” Daniels is charged. Daniels is BMF’s alleged third-in-command.
What’s more, Mayor Shirley Franklin’s ex-son-in-law, who was sentenced last year to life in prison for cocaine charges related to BMF, is under investigation for his alleged role in the murder of his co-defendant and the co-defendant’s girlfriend. The mayor’s daughter is also being investigated for what she might have known about her then-husband’s cocaine ring.
(Editor’s Note: Kai Franklin Graham has since pleaded guilty to a federal charge related to her husband’s cocaine ring and has agreed to cooperate in the ongoing investigation.)
Shalhoup expects a publication date of late 2008 or early 2009 for the book.
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November 28th, 2007 at 10:30 am
CLAP………….CLAP……….CLAP
Congratulations, seems like your SENSATIONAL JOURNALISIM SKILLS paid off MISS SHALHOUP…..book, movie deal……….can’t wait for your guest appearance on OPRAH’S BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB.
The American Media , an institution to behold. smh
November 28th, 2007 at 11:56 am
So what happened to the trial?????? What did the rest of the people that were supposed to go on trial due??? Can Ice T play Big Meech in the movei?????
November 28th, 2007 at 5:55 pm
MARA SHALOUP YOU ARE PATHETIC. YOU SENSATIONALIZED A STORY FOR YOUR OWN FINANCIAL GAIN! YOU SELFISHLY AND NEGLIGENTLY PUT HUNDREDS OF PEOPLES LIVES IN DANGER TO GET YOUR NAME IN LIGHTS. THE CRAZY PART IS, YOU HAVE CONDUCTED NOT ONE INTERVIEW TO GET YOUR INFORMATION. YOU JUST POSTED WHAT WAS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND SOMEHOW FINAGLED A MOVIE DEAL OUT OF IT!!! YOU DISGUST ME EVEN MORE AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE TRUE HUSTLER IN THIS STORY IS NON OTHER THAN ……. YOU!!!!!!
November 29th, 2007 at 11:07 am
ALTERNATING caps and SMALL TYPE makes my post look MENACING and MEANINGFUL. Take that MARA SHALOUP, you SUCCESSFUL writer and REPORTER, you. I will be ABLE to TELL PEOPLE I knew you WHEN.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:26 am
yeah……we’ll see about THAT!…..(mr. t)….some things you need to keep to yourself.
November 29th, 2007 at 4:28 pm
Way to go Mara! You are doing great journalism which is in short supply these days. Congrats.
December 18th, 2007 at 9:01 am
why are you people mad? This lady never sold any dope.
December 20th, 2007 at 7:38 am
Way to go Mara.
can’t wait for the book, i do have doubts tho about the company producing the movie hope it comes out as good as the story!
June 13th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I wish you would’ve sold the story to a more reputable film maker. I don’t want to see non acting rappers playing these parts.
June 13th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
ALL OF YOU SUCK!!! AND SO DOES MARA!!! SHE HAS YET TO GET ANY FIRST HAND INTERVIEWS. EVERYTHING SHE WRITES IS WHAT SHE READS IN COURT DOCUMENTS….WHICH ARE NOT ALWAYS ACCURATE!