Los Angeles gang leader and music executive “Big U” has been hit with a superseding indictment adding seven new charges to his federal racketeering case.
Prosecutors filed the charges against Big U, whose legal name is Eugene Henley Jr., on Wednesday, July 29, alleging he tried to silence a witness in his case.
List of Charges
The new charges include: Two counts of solicitation to commit a crime of violence, two counts of tampering with a witness, one count of conspiracy to transport an individual in interstate commerce with intent that the individual engage in prostitution, and two counts of wire fraud.
Henley, 59, is accused of trying to hire two fellow inmates to murder or seriously injure a witness against him, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
Prosecutors describe Henley as a longtime member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips street gang. He is currently being held without bail at the Metropolitan Detention Center Los Angeles in downtown L.A.
The superseding indictment alleges on June 10, 2026, he asked two fellow inmates about the layout of a housing unit where a witness, identified in the indictment as “Victim-1,” was being held.
“Henley offered to pay the inmates to kill or harm Victim-1 to prevent Victim-1 from testifying at trial against members of Henley’s criminal enterprise,” prosecutors allege.
An attorney for Henley did not immediately respond to Urban Hollywood 411‘s request for comment on the new allegations.
Big U Slams Feds
Henley has been in federal custody for over a year. The purported gang shot-caller and record label executive surrendered to authorities on March 19, 2025, and was named in a 43-count federal indictment.
Six others were also charged in the case.
In an Instagram live video just before turning himself in, Big U said he was set up and accused the FBI of targeting Black men “who try to help their community.”
“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,” he said.
Initial Allegations
The previously filed charges against Henley are conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), along with multiple counts of robbery, extortion, wire fraud, embezzlement, human trafficking, and failure to file a tax return.
The racketeering conspiracy charge includes a murder allegation in connection with the 2021 killing in Las Vegas of an aspiring musician identified as R.W.
Henley pleaded not guilty on all counts during his initial court appearance on April 8. If convicted as charged, he faces a maximum sentence of life in prison. The witness-tampering counts also carry a potential life sentence.
The gang leader and the other defendants are scheduled to go on trial in February 2027.
Federal prosecutors allege Henley operated “Big U Enterprise,” a South Los Angeles criminal organization that used his association with the Rollin’ 60s to intimidate businesses and individuals.
Music and TV Ties
He also launched a record label called Uneek Music, and starred in and executive produced the 2021 FX docuseries Hip Hop Uncovered.
The Justice Department alleged Henley used his charity called Developing Options, which was marketed as giving South L.A. youth an alternative to gangs and drugs, to siphon money for personal use.
Prosecutors accused him of embezzling money from the charity after receiving millions of dollars from celebrities, the federal government, and the Los Angeles mayor’s office Gang Reduction Youth Development (GRYD) Foundation.
The LAPD and the North Las Vegas Police Department assisted federal authorities in the investigation.
Adding to his legal problems, the superseding indictment includes additional allegations against Henley as part of the racketeering conspiracy charge.
These new allegations say the following:
In 2014, Henley and his associates assaulted and chased a Grammy-winning recording artist through Los Angeles International Airport to collect a debt and for failing to show respect
Henley allegedly embezzled additional charitable donations in 2019, that were intended for Developing Options.
In March 2023, he allegedly prepared to provide false information to a court and a county prosecutor to fabricate an individual’s employment with Developing Options.
In June and July of 2020, Henley sought and was denied additional COVID-19 pandemic-relief loans on behalf of Developing Options.
In February 2023, Henley allegedly threatened to shut down a cannabis business unless its owner paid him and co-defendant Sylvester Robinson, 60, a.k.a. “Vey,” of Northridge.
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