Last remaining member of Black Mafia Family arrested

By RHONDA COOK

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Federal agents found another member of the Black Mafia Family, the last member who is not now in prison, U.S. Marshals’ Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force reported Friday.

Vernon Marcus Coleman — who had several aliases such as Jason Stevenson Parkinson and WU — was picked up Thursday morning at a north Atlanta apartment. He was indicted more than two years ago on a federal charge of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine. Coleman also was wanted in Douglas County for failing appear in court on a traffic charge.

BMF, now no longer in operation, was a group that operated nationwide. But BMF was firmly established in Atlanta before local and federal authorities realized in 2003 that they were here. By that time, Atlanta had become a key city in the nationwide organization that ran a violent, yet lucrative, national drug distribution business.

At one time, federal agents said, BMF controlled or had a hand in virtually all the cocaine and crack sold in Atlanta, Detroit and Los Angeles and places in between.

Since then about 150 BMF members have been convicted on drug or weapons charges in various cities.

When Coleman was arrested, agents found narcotics, drug paraphernalia and fake documents supporting his various aliases. Coleman told the agents he knew he was wanted because he saw his fugitive profile on Comcast Cable’s local ‘On Demand’ channel. Coleman was the final defendant arrested of about 150 indicted members of the BMF.

Coleman claimed to be a rapper by the name WU and associated with The Life Records, The Illustrious Family and B-EZ Entertainment.