Eugene "Big U" Henley has been charged in a 43-count indictment, with new information alleging that his Big U Enterprise was run as a "mafia-like organization."
Shared by the L.A. Attorney's Office on Thursday (March 27), the music executive, 58, is accused of being a leader of the Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips. Following his arrest and a previous charge in a 107-page complaint, Henley was indicted on charges including conspiracy, extortion, fraud, tax evasion, and embezzlement.
Henley has been in federal custody since March 19 and has an arraignment scheduled for April 8, followed by an April 10 detention hearing. Six others are also named in the sprawling indictment, including Termaine "Luce Cannon" Williams, an alleged member of the Rollin' 60s. The indictment also detailed that Henley and his associates allegedly required big-name L.A. visitors to "check-in" as a means of protection in the city.
Also highlighted was the January 2021 murder of aspiring rapper Rayshawn Williams, who was signed to Henley's record label, Uneek Music. Henley is accused of kidnapping and fatally shooting Williams before allegedly leaving his body in a North Las Vegas desert.
Additionally, Henley's accused of embezzling donations issued through his anti-gang charity, Developing Options, also conducting fraud through a COVID-19 business-relief loan.
"As the indictment alleges, Mr. Henley led a criminal enterprise whose conduct ranged from murder to sophisticated fraud that included stealing from taxpayers and a charity," stated Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally. "Eradicating gangs and organized crime is the Department of Justice's top priority. Today's charges against the leadership of this criminal outfit will make our neighborhoods in Los Angeles safer."
Henley allegedly turned off his phones and ran away in the early hours of March 19, around the time when authorities were arresting his alleged gang associates. In videos posted to social media, Henley declared that he was going to surrender, alleged that he was a target of racial profiling and accused music manager Wack 100 of working with the FBI.
If convicted on all counts, Henley would receive a life prison sentence. He rose to prominence in the Rollin' 60s in the 1980s and was an early mentor to the late Nipsey Hussle.