Layton Simon is a mysterious yet legendary figure in the history of Detroit’s drug trade. Often mentioned alongside infamous kingpins like “Big Meech” Demetrius Flenory, details on Simon’s life are scarce, yet his fearsome reputation lives on. This article will explore Simon’s background, his role as a rival to the Black Mafia Family, and the enduring mysteries surrounding Detroit’s most elusive kingpin.
Background and Upbringing
Details on Layton Simon’s early life are hazy. He was born in 1958 in Detroit, Michigan. His parents remain unidentified, likely to protect their safety. Simon has never publicly discussed siblings, suggesting he may have been an only child.
Simon became involved with Harold Stinson, an established drug trafficker, at age 14. Captivated by the lucrative trade, Simon began dealing himself by 15, quickly amassing money and status. By age 15 he purchased a brand-new 1973 Cadillac, an extravagant display of his burgeoning success.
Ruling the Streets of Southwest Detroit
Simon rapidly rose to prominence throughout the 1970s and 1980s, establishing control over drug commerce in Southwest Detroit. He ruled undisputed, fending off rivals and exerting fearsome authority, earning notoriety as “The Beast.”
However, Simon met emerging competition in the forms of Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory. These siblings founded the notorious Black Mafia Family in 1989, quickly building their own substantial trafficking empire.
Trouble with the Flenory Brothers
Simon and the Flenorys became bitter rivals warring over territory in Detroit’s highly profitable drug trade. The streets of Southwest Detroit became an especially contested battleground between Simon’s crew and BMF affiliates.
At one point a new threat emerged to challenge Simon’s stronghold: a police officer moved into his building. Simon felt targeted by a continual police presence and left the streets, clearing the way for BMF to seize control.
With Simon temporarily out of the picture in the late 1980s, the Flenory Brothers enjoyed great success expanding their operations throughout Detroit and beyond. BMF eventually established a nationwide trafficking network generating over $270 million at its peak.
Portrayal in Media
Simon’s legend re-emerged through the Starz crime series “BMF” documenting the rise of Big Meech and Southwest T.
The show features a character named Lamar, portrayed by actor Eric Kofi-Abrefa, who is considered loosely inspired by Layton Simon. Lamar battles the Flenorys for control of Southwest Detroit, directly echoing Simon’s real-world rivalry.
Lamar is depicted as struggling with mental illness, leading to theories that the show adapted aspects of Simon’s rumored psychological issues. In the 1980s Simon was allegedly institutionalized in a psychiatric ward, much like Lamar in the show’s plotline.
So while details on the real Layton Simon remain unknown, through shows like BMF his enduring legend returns to capture the public imagination.
Is Layton Simon Still Alive?
Given his prolonged absence from the streets and lack of public presence, the question emerges: what happened to Layton Simon? Is he even still alive?
Unfortunately there are no definitive recent updates on Simon’s status, whereabouts, or livelihood. After conflicts with both police and the Black Mafia Family, Simon disappeared from public view in the late 1980s.
Some speculate he may have passed away from health issues or faded into obscurity. But given his fearsome reputation and the lack of conspicuous evidence of his demise, rumors persist that Simon remains alive yet isolated from his former criminal networks and territory.
So the current condition of Layton Simon, the former king of Southwest Detroit, remains clouded in mystery and intrigue. His ephemeral legacy looms large even as the man himself has vanished completely from the streets that once feared his name.
Legacy and Impact
Although his ultimate fate is uncertain, Layton Simon left an indelible impact on Detroit’s drug trade. Ruling Southwest Detroit in an era before names like Big Meech were known, Simon paved the way for the lucrative markets that later traffickers seized upon so successfully.
Through shows like BMF, books, and first-hand accounts from the era, Simon’s legend persists as one of the Motor City’s first drug kingpins. Tales of his business acumen, violent streak, secretive nature, and mysterious disappearance have become gangland lore – the kind that inspires movies and fuels street reputations.
Detroit has hosted numerous infamous crime bosses, from the Purple Gang to the Young Boys Inc. But in today’s underworld landscape, Layton Simon stands out as Detroit’s OG – the kingpin who blazed a trail and got away. His enduring mystery and notoriety solidify his impact, even as the man himself hides from the limelight.
FAQs About Layton Simon
Still hungry for more details on Layton Simon? Here are answers to some frequently asked questions:
What drug markets in Detroit was Layton Simon associated with?
Simon built his reputation by establishing dominance over drug trafficking in Southwest Detroit throughout the 1970s and 1980s. He controlled territory centered on this area before rivals like BMF emerged.
How did Layton Simon become so successful in Detroit’s early drug trade?
He got involved working under veteran distributor Harold Stinson at age 14. He aggressively built his dealing network and name recognition from the streets up in his early teens. By age 15 he already drove a new Cadillac, reflecting his quick ascent in Detroit’s markets.
When did Layton Simon disappear from public activity?
After police seized a building he operated from in the late 1980s, Simon left his former territory to the emerging control of groups like BMF. Some trace Simon’s disappearance from the drug trade to this series of events opening the door for the Flenory brothers’ rise.
What happened between Layton Simon and the Black Mafia Family?
As BMF rapidly expanded in Detroit under Big Meech and Southwest T, they became bitter rivals with Simon over prime drug commerce real estate. Their competition turned violent andushered in Simon’s fall from power after police raids forced him to abandon his southwest Detroit stronghold.
Is Layton Simon’s story adapted in any TV shows or movies?
The character Lamar in the hit Starz show “BMF: Black Mafia Family” is considered to be inspired partly by Layton Simon’s legendary rivalry with Big Meech and Southwest T. Lamar’s mental health issues also mirror urban legends swirling around Simon’s reclusive later years.
So while the true fate of Layton Simon is unknown, his legacy continues intrigue new generations. With alleged connections to famous kingpins and no evidence he was ever imprisoned, theories abound he remains active yet completely off the radar. His mystique serves as a cautionary tale that in Detroit’s drug game, staying power reigns above all – and knowing when to get out alive matters most of all.