The eight criminals fled the scene as soon as the fire alarm went off, purposefully trampling on one of the victim's bodies as they left. Wright became involved in drug trafficking following the murder of her husband, Howard Jackie Wright, a former Black Mafia member and major drug dealer who was found dead in a house in Germantown in August 1986, partially rolled up in a carpet with a gunshot wound to his head, according to an Inquirer report. Under the guise of seeking unity and an end to factional violence, Christian sought to exploit both groups financially. It was believed that this common knowledge was intended to reduce friction based on inadvertently soliciting clients or workers claimed by other members. Its not the same as for men. She was able to walk-away from drug trafficking and to rebuild her life. For example, each member upon entry to meetings was required to be searched by authorized members. An avid sports fan, Wright liked to attend NBA All-Star games around the country and fight nights in Vegas. Police asked Wright for the picture of Jackie that she carried in her wallet. Unlike her husband, she didnt have people who worked for her, she just had people that she supplied. Sign Up. [citation needed] Evidence was gained from 21 days of wiretapping mafia member's phone lines. "I made a lot of money. Log in or sign up for Facebook to connect with friends, family and people you know. Jeremiah Shabazz owned bakeries and food stores through the first Philadelphia NOI mosque or masjid, which would later be publicly criticized by NOI leadership in Chicago for drawing too much attention to itself as a "gangster" mosque. "I can tell you I made a lot of money. The Black Mafia, also known as the Philadelphia Black Mafia (PBM), Black Muslim Mafia and Muslim Mob, was a Philadelphia-based African-American organized crime syndicate. Presented by the Starz Original Series Power. No, absolutely not. LCN member Raymond "Long John" Martorano. She was Jacqueline (Jackie) Sonia Wright of Boulder, Colorado passed away suddenly on October 16, 2021. . With a taste of success and the lure of easy money, Wright began transporting cocaine and heroin between Los Angeles and Philadelphia. Log In. Wright and her son, Jacky, will co-executive produce the series alongside Blige. This crime was so notable that W.E.B. The command structure in 1968 consisted of fourteen individuals with a mean age of 29. [2] Recent academic works in criminal justice are filling in the gaps using FBI, court, and police records to substantiate the long association of Shabazz (aka Jeremiah Pugh) with the growth of organized black crime in Philadelphia.[3]. Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. Wright enjoys interacting with youth on a day-to-day basis, in an effort to steer teens and young adults away from the dangers that she once encountered, while guiding them on a positive path of personal development. He was very polite. Thelma Wright is an author and inspirational speaker from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. See Photos. She also maneuvered differently than her husband. Im still in disbelief, the former reality TV star says months after his murder-for-hire conviction. Now a motivational speaker, Wright formerly led one of the nations largest heroin and cocaine trafficking organizations in the 1980s and early 1990s. The average number of attendees ranged from 4060 and minutes were taken during the course of the meetings. He gained a cult following when edited-down versions of the Benny Hill programmes began airing in syndication in the US in the late 1970s. He was also the man she would later marry, who would become the love of her life and the father of her son. Not wanting anyone to make the same mistakes, Thelma decided to share her story. In what she describes as times of deep love and deep despair, their relationship got even more serious. Robinson, as informant, states that he feared for his family as Black Mafia influence grew. [4][5] John Street escaped prosecution, but several of his key people drew successful federal prosecutions, ending their careers. In 2015, Thelma founded theThelma Wright Foundation, which aims to motivate young at-risk women to focus on education over incarceration and avoid getting caught up in gangs and drugs -- especially when led there by the men in their lives. He likely also wisely feared the inevitable investigation into the use of the funds. Opposites attract and they have a dream to better their lives, but theyre attracted to a man who is in the streets. Thelma wastes no words when speaking to these young girls. She didnt solicit, and only did business with people who had previously dealt with her husbandpeople she knew she could trust. Thelma could empathize with these women. You can click this link to create an obituary. He was born in Grayson County on March Legal Statement Prepare a personalized obituary for someone you loved.. Search Philadelphia obituaries and condolences, hosted by Echovita.com. Wright was also commemorated in the special edition of Time-Life Magazine, Women Outlaws, Their Crimes, Their Motives, Their Methods. A sought-after motivational speaker, Wrights wisdom has graced prisons, schools, youth centers and universities around the country. Four bullets had been fired into his back. Potential members had to be recommended by an original member and approved by the board. She stayed discreetly in Los Angeles where she felt safe, only traveling to Philadelphia when business needed to be taken care of there. A young Thelma was born and raised in Philadelphia and never would have dreamed that she would one day be known as the Queen of Philly. distributing drugs to CII network of people. [citation needed] As the gang gained local control, separate meetings were held for those holding positions of power and those who were general members. Web1. JBM founders Aaron Jones, then 26; Mark Casey, then 23; and Leonard Patterson, then 27, grew up together on the streets of West Philadelphia. Would I do it again? An hour and a half after the robbery, witnesses saw two men marching Williams out of a bar at 15th and South street at gunpoint. As usual, several Black Mafia leaders participated in the game. Get away. Wright reported Jackie missing at the police station near where he was last seen. It gives me an opportunity to see some of the destruction behind things that I had done," she stated about her work in recent years. He was predeceased by : his parents, Marvin Wright and Imogene Wright (Jones); More Information: https://thelmabwright.com/, Follow:Twitter| Facebook | Instagram. She did not come from a disadvantaged background, one of poverty, one of abuse, says former DEA Agent Mike Vigil in the documentary Philly Gangster Queen Thelma Wright. She especially tailors her message to teenage girls who may be on the cusp of the very life Thelma found herself in. In 2011, she decided to face the life she left behind once again to write atell-all memoircalled With Eyes on Both Sides: Living My Life In and Out of the Game. Jacqueline Wright. Send2Press is the originating wire service for this story and content is Copr. Additional founding members included Ronald Harvey, Henry Dabney, Richard "Pork Chops" James, Donald "Donnie" Day, Clyde "Apples" Ross, Robert "Bop Daddy" Fairbanks, Craig "Heist" Jones, Walter Hudgins, Robert "Nudie" Mims amongst others. Officials have reported that a relative of the late Russell Barnes who frequents Philadelphia and New Each founder had extensive arrest records, with most cases involving violence. The singer-songwriter has a musical career spanning over two decades. Then about 10 days later, Wright says, police arrested one of her clients while he was picking up a package at a drop site. LEGAL NOTICE AND TERMS OF USE: The content of the above press release was provided by the news source Thelma Wright or authorized agency, who is solely responsible for its accuracy. No. Because one wrong decision can change your life forever.. Wright went from being The Boss Lady to finding a job as a receptionist. Shot in a bar at 17th and Dauphin sts. In addition to Palmer, three women and one of Palmer's bodyguards were killed.[6]. Inside the house, police discovered Jackie rolled up in a carpet. What began as a loose criminal association quickly evolved into a lucrative drug network, with a total distribution estimated at 100 to 200 kilos of cocaine per month at its peak. She expanded the operations that transported cocaine and heroin between Philadelphia and Los Angeles alongside Auntie and a new boyfriend called D whom she met at a Las Vegas Fight Night. The money was goodvery good. The new show will chronicle the life of Thelma Wright, a woman who once ruled as Phillys Queenpin during the 1980s drug epidemic. The Strike Force concluded the overdose was arranged to "ensure his silence in a Black Mafia related assault case". | SiteDesignbyNEOTROPE, Send2Press Newswire - Press Release Services, Thelma Wright, Philadelphias Beloved American Gangster Empowers a New Generation with Mentoring and Reform, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License, Consulting and Coaching News, Thelma Wright Empowerment Program, Mentoring. Once widowed and left as the young mother of a toddler son, she discreetly took over his business, running a bi-coastal drug empire, unbeknownst to family and friends around her. You're not going to win. "[citation needed] Members could move up in the chain of command according to certain established criteria. Jay Wright retired the honor. Because of this, police had incredible difficulty taking any action on the gang or any of its members for years after their conception. Shot to death with two other women in a West Philadelphia apartment by Russell Barnes, through a contract by NOI Muslims and the Black Mafia. From the earliest days of the JBM, members and associates of the old Black Mafia served as mentors to various JBM members and are known to have played an important advisory role in the formation and development of the Junior Black Mafia. By 1973, the Mafia were beginning to lose anonymity due to the increasing scale of their crimes and the increased law enforcement and media attention. The JBM was conceived in 1986 and "born" in 1987 as an organization dedicated to exploiting the seemingly limitless profit potential created by the crack epidemic. WebWhen her husband Jackie Wright, a major player in the Philadelphia drug game was murdered, Thelma Wright became a gangster queen of Philadelphia, wrighteous - When But life in the game was not exactly what Wright had bargained for. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge our Privacy Policy. It was all him, Wright said Wednesday afternoon. After Thelmas husband, Two options: death or jail. It was really a strange kind of a thing, says Wright. She had the support of her parents to help in the raising of her young son and money that her late husband put aside to provide for his education. "He took care of us, loved his son. Shot in a parking lot at 3700 Brown St. in Philadelphia for cheating Tyrone "Fat Ty" Palmer on the Richard "Red Paul" Harris narcotics deal. The JBM was involved in a drug war with the Shower Posse in Southwest Philadelphia during the 1980s and early 1990s.[10]. Jackie C. Wright 75, of Flagler Beach, Florida passed away peacefully at her home with her family by her side on August 27, 2018. In fact, she is quick to acknowledge that it was the strength of good parenting and strong family ties that laid her solid foundation and saw her through her darkest days. Coined as Phillys Gangster Queen, Thelma has been featured on the series Gangsters: Americas Most Evil. It was a lot of money in that." She worked twice as hard to get half as far and was passed up for raises and promotions. For more information about Thelma Wright and The Thelma Wright Empowerment Program, go to https://thelmabwright.com/ and http://thelmawrightfoundation.org/. 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