LA Crips Leader 'Big U' Enters Plea in RICO Case

Eugene Henley Jr., a Los Angeles gang leader and music executive known as “Big U,” pleaded not guilty earlier this week to all charges in his federal racketeering, extortion, and murder case.

Henley, 58, entered his plea on Tuesday, April 8, during his initial appearance in a downtown L.A. courtroom, NBC4 Los Angeles reported.

Henley ran the South Los Angeles-based Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips street gang. He also had a record label called Uneek Music, and starred in and executive produced the 2021 FX docuseries Hip Hop Uncovered.

Federal prosecutors said in a news release last month that Henley allegedly committed a string of violent crimes and stole from taxpayers while running a “mafia-like organization.”

He turned himself in on March 19 after being named in a 43-count federal indictment that charged him with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, along with multiple counts of robbery, extortion, wire fraud and embezzlement, murder, and human trafficking.

If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

The Department of Justice alleged Henley used his charity called Developing Options — which was marketed as giving South L.A. youth an alternative to gangs and drugs — as a front for nefarious activity.

Prosecutors alleged Henley embezzled money from the charity after receiving millions of dollars from celebrities and the Los Angeles mayor’s office Gang Reduction Youth Development (GRYD) Foundation.

In an Instagram live video just before surrendering to authorities, Big U insisted he had been set up. He blamed haters and accused the FBI of targeting Black men “who try to help their community.”

“I guess it is what it is,” he said. “This [is] the price of being Black and trying to help somebody. Trying to help your community. You’re just guilty because somebody else don’t like you.”

“It’s crazy,” he added, “I ain’t did nothing.”