Walking through Detroit today, you might pass by a 67-year-old man who looks like any other community elder. But Layton Simon carries with him a story that reads like something straight out of a crime thriller. What makes his tale truly extraordinary isn’t just his criminal past – it’s what he’s done with his life since leaving that world behind.
Who is Layton Simon? The Man Behind the BMF Legend
If you’re wondering who Layton Simon really is, you’re not alone. Many people first learned about him through the BMF series, where actor Eric Kofi-Abrefa brought his story to life as Lamar Silas. But the real Layton Simon is far more complex than any television portrayal could capture.
Born in 1958 in Detroit, Michigan, Simon spent the better part of his adult life as a major player in the city’s drug trade. We’re talking about someone who wasn’t just selling on street corners – he was running operations, commanding territory, and earning the kind of respect (and fear) that comes with being at the top of a dangerous game.
What’s fascinating about Simon’s story is how it intersects with the legendary Flenory brothers. While BMF focuses primarily on Big Meech and Southwest T, Simon’s rivalry with them shaped Detroit’s criminal landscape in ways that are still talked about today. The tension between these powerhouses wasn’t just business – it was personal, especially after the murder of Simon’s brother.
These days, you’ll find Simon doing something completely different with his time. He’s become a youth advocate, running a clothing brand called “Made In Plan” that funds community projects. It’s hard to imagine someone making such a dramatic life change, but Simon proves it’s possible.
Early Life in Detroit – The Making of a Street Legend
Growing up in 1960s Detroit wasn’t easy for anyone, but Layton Simon’s childhood was particularly challenging. Picture a young boy in a household with four siblings – three sisters and a brother who would later meet a tragic end. The Simon family faced the same struggles that many African-American families dealt with during those turbulent times.
Here’s where Simon’s story takes a dramatic turn that would shape everything that followed. When he was just eight years old, something happened that most kids never have to face. Two drug addicts broke into his family’s home, knowing his mother had $80,000 and drugs inside. Instead of hiding or running, young Layton grabbed a shotgun and stood between the intruders and his mother.
Can you imagine an eight-year-old making that kind of decision? This wasn’t just bravery – it was a glimpse into the kind of person Simon would become. That moment of protecting his family under extreme pressure showed the fearlessness that would later make him a formidable figure in Detroit’s underworld.
The legal troubles started early too. During the 1967 Detroit riots, nine-year-old Simon was arrested for stealing hats. While he didn’t go to jail because of his age, this first encounter with police set a pattern that would continue for decades. Looking back, you can see how poverty, violence, and limited opportunities created the perfect conditions for his eventual entry into the drug trade.
Rise in Detroit’s Drug Trade – The Harold Stinson Connection
By fourteen, Layton Simon had made a decision that would define the next several decades of his life. He entered Detroit’s drug trafficking world under the mentorship of Harold Stinson, a notorious figure who taught him everything about the business. This wasn’t just about selling drugs – Stinson showed Simon how to survive in an environment where one wrong move could be fatal.
What happened next is pretty remarkable when you think about it. Within just one year, Simon had gained enough wealth and status to buy a 1972 Lincoln Town car. Remember, he was only fifteen years old. In the drug world, that kind of display wasn’t just showing off – it was a statement of power and a warning to anyone who might challenge him.
Simon’s rise through the ranks was meteoric. His intelligence and street smarts set him apart from others in the game. Before long, he wasn’t just working for someone else – he was running his own operations in Southwest Detroit. This territory became his domain, where his word was law and his reputation preceded him wherever he went.
The money was flowing, but so were the dangers. Being at the top of Detroit’s drug hierarchy in the 1970s and 1980s meant constantly watching your back. Simon had to be smart, ruthless, and always one step ahead of both rivals and law enforcement. It’s a lifestyle that few people can sustain for long, but Simon managed to stay on top for years.
The BMF Rivalry – Layton Simon vs. The Flenory Brothers
Now here’s where things get really interesting. The conflict between Layton Simon and the Flenory brothers wasn’t just another turf war – it was a clash between titans that would reshape Detroit’s entire criminal landscape. We’re talking about Demetrius “Big Meech” Flenory and Terry “Southwest T” Flenory, names that have become legendary in both criminal history and hip-hop culture.
The rivalry took a personal turn when Simon’s brother was murdered, and word got back to him that Big Meech had bragged about it. Imagine how that must have felt – losing a family member and then hearing your rival boast about it. This transformed what might have been just a business dispute into something much deeper and more dangerous.
What’s surprising, though, is how Simon talks about Big Meech today. Despite everything that happened between them, he still expresses respect for how Big Meech conducted himself. Simon has praised him for following street codes and never involving law enforcement in their disputes. That’s a level of professional respect that’s rare in the criminal world.
This stands in stark contrast to how Simon feels about other rivals, particularly Edrick E.D. Boyd, whom he’s accused of betrayal. In Simon’s world, there were rules about how conflicts should be handled, and breaking those rules was unforgivable.
The pressure from this rivalry eventually contributed to the Flenory brothers expanding their operations beyond Detroit. Some say Simon’s presence in the city was one factor that pushed Big Meech to build the empire that would make BMF a household name in hip-hop culture.
Legal Troubles and the Turning Point
Throughout his criminal career, Layton Simon had numerous run-ins with law enforcement. Starting with that childhood arrest during the Detroit riots, he faced multiple arrests as police tried to shut down his operations. Each time, he managed to navigate the legal system and get back to business, but the pressure was always there.
The end came when law enforcement conducted a major raid on Simon’s network. This wasn’t just another arrest – it was a coordinated effort to dismantle everything he had built. The writing was on the wall: his time as a major player in Detroit’s drug trade was over.
Faced with this reality, Simon made a choice that many in his position wouldn’t have the courage to make. Instead of trying to rebuild or fight back, he decided to walk away completely. This wasn’t a gradual exit – it was a clean break from the only life he had known as an adult.
Think about what that decision meant. Simon was giving up not just money and power, but his entire identity. In the criminal world, you are what you do, and walking away means starting over from scratch. It takes tremendous strength to make that kind of change.
BMF Series vs. Reality – Separating Fact from Fiction
When BMF premiered on Starz, it introduced Layton Simon’s story to millions of viewers through the character Lamar Silas. Eric Kofi-Abrefa’s portrayal brought Simon’s experiences to life on screen, but like any dramatization, some liberties were taken with the truth.
Simon has been vocal about certain aspects of the show that don’t reflect his actual experiences or values. The most significant issue he has is with scenes showing Lamar engaging in violence against women and children. Simon has consistently stated that he never harmed innocent people, particularly women and children, and these portrayals misrepresent who he was even during his criminal years.
Another major discrepancy involves the show’s depiction of Lamar being institutionalized and escaping from a mental facility. Simon has firmly denied these claims, stating that he was never institutionalized and always maintained his mental faculties. These elements were added for dramatic effect but don’t reflect his real experiences.
Despite these differences, Simon recognizes that the series has brought valuable attention to his story. The show’s popularity has given him a platform to share his message of redemption with a much wider audience than he could have reached otherwise. Sometimes fiction can serve truth in unexpected ways.
The Transformation – From Criminal to Community Leader
Making the transition from drug dealer to youth advocate wasn’t something that happened overnight for Layton Simon. After leaving the criminal world, he faced the enormous challenge of rebuilding his entire life from the ground up. This meant finding new purpose and meaning beyond the wealth and power that had previously defined him.
What motivated Simon to change wasn’t just legal pressure or fear of consequences. He had witnessed firsthand how the drug trade devastated communities, destroyed families, and trapped young people in cycles of violence and poverty. Having been at the top of that world, he understood better than most how destructive it really was.
The process of becoming a community leader required Simon to develop entirely new skills and relationships. He had to prove to legitimate organizations and community members that his commitment to change was real and lasting. This wasn’t easy – people were understandably skeptical of someone with his background.
But Simon was patient and persistent. He understood that earning trust would take time, and he was willing to put in the work. His unique perspective as someone who had been at the highest levels of the criminal hierarchy gave him credibility when speaking to young people about the realities of street life.
Layton Simon Today – Made In Plan and Youth Advocacy
These days, Layton Simon channels the same entrepreneurial energy that made him successful in the drug trade into legitimate business ventures and community work. His clothing brand, “Made In Plan,” isn’t just a business – it’s a vehicle for funding his youth advocacy efforts and a symbol of his belief in the importance of having a plan for your life.
You can find Simon regularly speaking at schools and community events throughout Detroit. He shares his story with young people who might be facing similar challenges to those he encountered in his youth. His message focuses on the real consequences of criminal activity and the importance of education and legitimate opportunities.
What makes Simon’s advocacy work so powerful is his authenticity. When he talks to kids about the dangers of street life, they know he’s not just repeating what he read in a book – he lived it. His street credibility gives weight to his words in a way that traditional authority figures often can’t match.
As a father of five children, Simon brings a personal understanding to his work with families. His experience as both a criminal and a parent gives him unique insights into the challenges facing young people in urban environments. He knows what it’s like to worry about your children growing up in dangerous neighborhoods.
Simon remains deeply connected to Detroit, the city where his story began. His continued presence there demonstrates his commitment to giving back to the community that shaped him, even during its most difficult periods. He could have left for somewhere easier, but he chose to stay and be part of the solution.
Legacy and Impact – Lessons from Layton Simon’s Journey
Layton Simon’s story represents something bigger than just one man’s redemption. It’s proof that fundamental change is possible, no matter how dark your past might be. His transformation challenges the common assumption that people can’t really change, especially those who have been involved in serious criminal activity.
The impact of Simon’s work extends far beyond the individuals he directly mentors. His story has become part of Detroit’s ongoing narrative of resilience and renewal. In a city that has faced enormous challenges, Simon’s transformation shows that residents can overcome even the most difficult circumstances.
What’s perhaps most important about Simon’s journey is how it illustrates the power of taking responsibility for your actions and using past mistakes as motivation for positive change. He doesn’t try to excuse or minimize what he did in his criminal years. Instead, he uses those experiences as teaching tools to help others avoid making similar mistakes.
The lessons from Layton Simon’s life resonate far beyond Detroit’s city limits. His story speaks to anyone who has made serious mistakes and wondered whether redemption is truly possible. Through his continued advocacy work and public speaking, Simon proves that it’s never too late to choose a different path and make a positive impact on the world.
In the end, Layton Simon’s greatest achievement isn’t the territory he once controlled or the money he once made. It’s the lives he’s helping to change today, one young person at a time. That’s a legacy worth celebrating.
