Crime Chronicles:
- Eugene “Big U” Henley, long-time Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips leader, indicted on charges including murder, extortion, fraud, and embezzlement.
- Authorities leveraged Henley’s explicit admissions on social media, notably from Adam22’s popular podcast, to strengthen their criminal case.
- The indictment highlights aggressive efforts by law enforcement to dismantle organized street crime through innovative investigative techniques, including meticulous monitoring of social media.
By Samuel A. Lopez – USA Herald
Los Angeles – In a stunning move by federal prosecutors, Eugene Henley Jr., famously known as “Big U,” has been indicted on 43 counts of serious felonies, including murder, extortion, fraud, and tax evasion. The charges bring to light decades of alleged criminal activities intricately woven through the streets of Los Angeles, threatening to dismantle what authorities describe as a “mafia-like organization.”
Ironically, Henley’s rise to notoriety through podcasts and social media platforms has become the very tool authorities are using to bring him down. Adam22, whose highly influential platform regularly hosted Henley, publicly acknowledged that the FBI contacted him during the investigation. Adam22’s “No Jumper” podcast, famous for its raw conversations and provocative topics, and other social media platforms Henley appeared on, inadvertently provided investigators critical evidence directly from Henley’s own mouth.
On these podcasts, Henley frequently bragged about his status, gang connections, and involvement in crimes ranging from intimidation and violence to fraudulent activities. These candid admissions, prosecutors assert, provided undeniable evidence directly linking Henley to multiple serious offenses.
The indictment meticulously documents Henley’s alleged criminal reign dating back to at least 2010. Authorities allege he orchestrated the operations of the so-called “Big U Enterprise,” a criminal network rooted in his long-standing association with the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips gang. The enterprise reportedly operated through fear, intimidation, and outright violence, systematically exploiting businesses, communities, and even charitable organizations across Los Angeles.
“Not only did the enterprise expand its power through violence, fear, and intimidation, but it also used social media platforms, documentaries, podcasts, interviews, and Henley’s reputation and status as an “O.G.” (original gangster) to create fame for – and stoke fear of – the Big U Enterprise, its members, and its associates.” DOJ press release.
Notably, the indictment specifically charges Henley with the January 2021 murder of an aspiring musician identified as “R.W.,” who was signed to Henley’s music label, Uneek Music. According to the indictment, Henley shot and killed R.W., who had recorded a defamatory song about Henley. Henley then dragged the victim’s body off Interstate 15 in Las Vegas and left it in a ditch.
Henley, is alleged to have engaged in multiple criminal activities, including fraudulently securing a COVID-19 business-relief loan for Uneek Music—a company operating at a loss and ineligible for such relief. He leveraged his anti-gang charity, Developing Options, as a facade for fraudulent schemes and to shield other members of the Big U Enterprise from law enforcement scrutiny.
Furthermore, Henley misappropriated substantial donations made to Developing Options by celebrities and award-winning organizations, diverting these funds directly into his personal bank account. According to the indictment, Developing Options receives funding primarily through the City of Los Angeles’s Mayor’s Office via the Gang Reduction Youth Development (GRYD) Foundation, which is partially supported by federal funding. The charity also benefits from contributions from high-profile sources, including NBA players.
The indictment further alleges that, as part of the racketeering conspiracy, Henley fled his home and turned off his cellphones during the early morning hours of March 19, while law enforcement was arresting other members of the enterprise. On the same day, he used the “Crenshaw Cougars” Instagram account to claim racial profiling, shift blame onto his co-defendants and opponents for the federal charges against him, and instruct the public to sever ties with his co-defendants and known adversaries. Henley ultimately surrendered to federal authorities but did so without his phones.
Also charged in the indictment are:
