Skip to main content
book cover for Black Mafia Queen

Black Mafia Queen

The Woman Behind the BMF Empire

Narrated by Patricia R. Floyd

You must sign in to see if this title is available for request. Sign In or Register Now

Send NetGalley books directly to your Kindle or Kindle app


1

To read on a Kindle or Kindle app, please add kindle@netgalley.com as an approved email address to receive files in your Amazon account. Click here for step-by-step instructions.

2

Also find your Kindle email address within your Amazon account, and enter it here.

Pub Date Mar 17 2026 | Archive Date Mar 24 2026

RBmedia | Recorded Books


Talking about this book? Use #BlackMafiaQueen #NetGalley. More hashtag tips!


Description

In this incredible-but-true crime memoir from “The First Lady of BMF” (Black Mafia Family), Tonesa Welch reveals the dramatic story of her unlikely rise from middle-class teenaged mom to Mafia Queen of Detroit, from Beverly Hills mansions to federal prison—and from a life of danger and self-doubt to one of acceptance, redemption, and love … How did a nice middle-class girl from Detroit become one of the top cocaine distribution Mafia Queens in America? It wasn’t because of the drugs. By the time Tonesa Welch was running her criminal empire—distributing thousands of kilos from Mexican cartels for tens of millions of dollars a month nationally—she had conquered her addiction to cocaine and replaced it with a new one: shopping. While her customers got high from blow, Tonesa blew her fortune on designer clothes, fancy champagne, and shopping sprees on Rodeo Drive. It was more than a passion. It was an all-consuming obsession that would ultimately land her in prison—and force her to rebuild her life from the ground up. This is Tonesa’s story. A rare insider’s account of the infamous Black Mafia Family—told by a woman who rose up the ranks, fell to the bottom, and picked herself up again—it is, above all, the story of a survivor. Like many women, Tonesa struggled with her insecurities, trying to find validation through five-figure outfits, six-figure cars, and seven-figure homes. But after her mansion was raided by the feds, she swapped her Gucci dresses for a prison smock—and faced the greatest challenge of her life: finding herself. In the end, Black Mafia Queen reveals not only the full story behind BET’s The First Lady of BMF, but the inspiring journey of one woman’s heart.
In this incredible-but-true crime memoir from “The First Lady of BMF” (Black Mafia Family), Tonesa Welch reveals the dramatic story of her unlikely rise from middle-class teenaged mom to Mafia Queen...

Advance Praise

“As the queen of BMF, Tonesa Welch has a story to tell. Behind every hustler is a woman with a master plan. Tonesa is a survivor, a natural-born hustler who has lived nine lives. Her story is dynamic and dangerous–heartbreaking and complicated. She is a force in a man’s world.”
—Nia Long, NAACP Award-winning actress (Boyz n the Hood, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Love Jones, Empire)

“Tonesa’s life is a cautionary tale with an inspirational ending. Her goal is to help transform the lives of other women. This book is the tool to make it happen.”
—Judge Greg Mathis, Executive Producer of The First Lady of BMF: The Tonesa Welch Story

Black Mafia Queen delivers a courageous, must-read testament to human resilience, proving that any life can be stripped bare and rebuilt into something magnificent. More than a story; it's the testimony of a woman who found herself and is now fiercely fighting for those who still don't have a voice.”
—Brian Banks, J.D., PhD, Educator, legislator, and community activist

“As the queen of BMF, Tonesa Welch has a story to tell. Behind every hustler is a woman with a master plan. Tonesa is a survivor, a natural-born hustler who has lived nine lives. Her story is dynamic...


Available Editions

EDITION Audiobook, Unabridged
ISBN 9798895947630
PRICE $29.99 (USD)
DURATION 9 Hours, 12 Minutes

Available on NetGalley

NetGalley Shelf App (AUDIO)