Feds Unseal 43-Count Indictment Against Big U, Alleging Murder, Fraud, Extortion and Racketeering

Federal prosecutors have announced a sweeping 43-count indictment against Eugene Henley Jr., also known as “Big U,” accusing the longtime Los Angeles street figure and nonprofit leader of leading a criminal enterprise that spanned more than a decade and included murder, wire fraud, embezzlement of public funds, and racketeering. The indictment, unsealed this week, paints Henley as the head of a violent and highly organized operation operating under the name “Big U Enterprise.”

Henley, 58, was taken into federal custody on March 19 and is scheduled to be arraigned April 8 in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. According to the indictment, from 2010 to March 2025, Henley used his influence within the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips to operate a mafia-like organization that engaged in robbery, extortion, fraud, prostitution, illegal gambling, and even murder. Federal prosecutors allege that Henley used his nonprofit Developing Options—which receives city and federal funding—as a front to embezzle donations and shield members of the enterprise from law enforcement scrutiny.

Among the charges Henley faces are conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, Hobbs Act robbery and extortion, 15 counts of wire fraud, five counts of embezzlement and misuse of federal funds, bank fraud, tax evasion, and transportation of an individual across state lines for prostitution in violation of the Mann Act. The case alleges that Henley also committed murder in January 2021, when he shot and killed an aspiring rapper who had released a song criticizing him. Prosecutors say Henley then dragged the victim’s body off Interstate 15 in Las Vegas and left it in a ditch.

Authorities say Henley obtained a fraudulent COVID-19 business-relief loan for his music label Uneek Music, which was operating at a loss and not eligible for relief. He’s also accused of converting charitable donations—including those from NBA players—into personal funds, despite Developing Options being heavily funded through Los Angeles’ Gang Reduction Youth Development Foundation.

In the early hours of March 19, while law enforcement was arresting others tied to the enterprise, Henley allegedly shut off his phones and fled. That same day, he posted on social media blaming racial profiling and encouraging followers to distance themselves from his co-defendants. He later surrendered without his phones.

Six others are charged in the case: Sylvester Robinson of Northridge, Mark Martin of the Beverlywood area, Termaine Williams of Las Vegas, Armani Aflleje of Koreatown, Fredrick Blanton Jr. of South Los Angeles, and Tiffany Hines of Yorba Linda. All remain in federal custody and are expected to appear in court in the coming weeks.

If convicted, Henley faces decades in prison. The racketeering conspiracy charge alone carries a maximum of 20 years, while charges like bank fraud and wire fraud carry potential 30- and 20-year sentences, respectively. The indictment is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles and was the result of a joint investigation by the FBI, IRS, and other federal and local law enforcement agencies.