Big U faces seven new federal charges including soliciting inmates to murder a witness testifying against him in his massive racketeering case.
Big U is facing seven fresh federal charges that paint a picture of a man willing to orchestrate violence from behind bars to silence witnesses against him.
The Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips leader and music executive Eugene Henley Jr., 59, was hit with the new indictment on Wednesday, and prosecutors say he’s been soliciting fellow inmates to murder or seriously injure a federal witness who’s set to testify at his trial.
This isn’t just another charge in an already massive case. This is desperation.
Big U’s been locked up since March 2025 awaiting trial on a 43-count racketeering indictment that includes murder, extortion, robbery, wire fraud, and human trafficking.
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The new charges add two counts of solicitation to commit a crime of violence, two counts of witness tampering, one count of conspiracy to transport someone for prostitution, and two counts of wire fraud.
Prosecutors are arguing that Big U has been running what they call a “mafia-like organization” out of the Big U Enterprise, using his gang connections to intimidate businesses and individuals across Los Angeles for decades.
The witness tampering allegations are particularly damning because they show Henley’s still trying to control the narrative from a jail cell.
Federal prosecutors say he’s been reaching out to inmates, trying to get them to handle his problem.
That’s the kind of move that tells you everything you need to know about how serious this situation is for him.
What makes this case even more complex is Henley’s history in the rap world.
He helped launch Nipsey Hussle‘s career and was known as a community figure, but prosecutors say that’s all been a cover.
They claim he’s been accused of defrauding athletes like Shaquille O’Neal and Draymond Green by convincing them to donate to charity, then pocketing the money himself.
He’s also accused of killing Las Vegas rapper Rayshawn Williams in January 2021 over a disrespectful song, then dragging the body off Interstate 15 and leaving it in a ditch.
Big U and six other defendants are scheduled to go to trial in February 2027, and if he’s convicted on the racketeering conspiracy count alone, he could face life in prison.
A hearing on a motion to suppress wiretap recordings is expected to be scheduled in the coming weeks.
