Alleged LA Crips leader, music exec Big U accused of 'mafia-like' crimes
Eugene Henley now in custody, FBI says
Eugene Henley, also known as Big U, has turned himself in to authorities. According to law enforcement officials, Henley ran a mafia like organization while masquerading as a music mogul and gang peacemaker.
LOS ANGELES - A prominent Los Angeles music executive turned himself in to federal officials on Wednesday, after the FBI accused him of running a vast "mafia-like organization" connected to the South Los Angeles street gang Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips.
‘Big U’ charged under RICO Act
What we know:
According to the complaint, Eugene Henley Jr., 58, also known as "Big U," is charged with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.
Alleged Crips leader accused of 'mafia-like' crimes
Eugene Henley Jr., also known as "Big U," is accused leading what officials called a "mafia-like" organization linked to the Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips. Federal officials are searching for him.
A longtime figure in the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips street gang, Henley allegedly ran a criminal enterprise involved in racketeering crimes, including extortion, human trafficking, fraud, and the 2021 murder of aspiring rap musician Rayshawn Williams, court documents stated.
Operation Draw Down
Federal officials announced several arrests Wednesday, in what they called "Operation Draw Down."
In the last 24 hours, officials said 10 other alleged gang members and associates had been arrested and charged with various federal crimes, including drug trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and firearms offenses. Four defendants were already in custody.
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Two other alleged members of the criminal enterprise – Sylvester Robinson, 59, a.k.a. "Vey," of Northridge, and Mark Martin, 50, a.k.a. "Bear Claw," of the Beverlywood area of Los Angeles – were arrested Wednesday on the same criminal complaint in which Henley is charged.
‘Big U’ turns himself in
Wednesday evening, the FBI announced that Henley and Bryan Mejia, the remaining suspects charged, had turned themselves in to federal officials.
Henley and another defendant, Bryan Mejia, are considered fugitives, officials said.
The charges
Dig deeper:
According to the affidavit unsealed along with the criminal complaint, Henley's criminal group identified in court documents as the "Big U Enterprise" operated as a "mafia-like organization" that used Henley's stature and longtime association with the Rollin' 60s and other street gangs to intimidate individuals and businesses in LA from 2010 on.
"While the Big U Enterprise at times partnered with the Rollin' 60s and other criminal elements for mutual benefit, the Big U Enterprise is a distinct and independent criminal enterprise engaged in criminal activity including murder, extortion, robbery, trafficking and exploiting sex workers, fraud, and illegal gambling," court documents read.
The complaint details Henley's involvement in the 2021 murder of aspiring rapper Rayshawn Williams, and fraudulent activities, including embezzling large donations from celebrities and award-winning companies meant for his nonprofit, Developing Options. According to the complaint, Henley immediately converted those donations to his personal bank account.
Additionally, Henley allegedly submitted a fraudulent application for a COVID-19 pandemic relief loan in which he claimed that Uneek Music, his music promotion company, was operating at a $200,000 profit in 2019 despite operating at a $5,000 loss that year, which should have disqualified it from loan eligibility.
Developing Options is primarily funded through the City of Los Angeles’s Mayor’s Office through the Gang Reduction Youth Development (GRYD) Foundation, portions of which receive federal funding, but also receives donations from prominent sources, including NBA players, the complaint said.
The backstory:
Henley was instrumental in launching the career of the late Los Angeles rapper Nipsey Hussle, who was shot to death in South Los Angeles in 2019.
He previously starred in FX's six-part docu-series "Hip Hop Uncovered" in 2021.
His bio on the FX website described him as "a world-renowned street legend, community activist, philanthropist, entertainment industry executive" who is "dependable, honest and fearless."
Eugene "Big U" Henley, Snoop Dogg and Trick Trick attend the FX's New Docu-Series "Hip Hop Uncovered" Los Angeles Premiere on February 10, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Leon Bennett/Getty Images)
Henley once served 13 years in prison for trying to steal cocaine from an undercover sheriff's deputy in 1991.
His son, Daiyan Henley, is a linebacker entering his second season with the Los Angeles Chargers.
What they're saying:
"The allegations in the complaint unsealed today reveal a criminal enterprise that engaged in murder, extortion, human trafficking, and fraud – all led by a supposed anti-gang activist and purported music entrepreneur who was nothing more than a violent street criminal," said Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally.
FBI Assistant Director Akil Davis emphasized the effort to bring justice, saying, "The FBI and our partners have worked for four years to bring justice in this case and will continue to rule out this kind of criminal behavior plaguing the streets of Los Angeles.
"The RICO charges against Mr. Henley and his associates reflect a pattern of crimes that runs the gambit from extortion to tax evasion, all under the umbrella of a well-organized criminal organization led by Mr. Henley," said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office. "Additionally, Mr. Henley allegedly duped the County of Los Angeles by running a charitable organization that promoted anti-gang solutions while continuing criminal activity that was directly contrary to his charity. IRS-CI is proud to partner with fellow law enforcement organizations to investigate these criminal organizations to protect our communities from further harm.""
What's next:
Henley faces a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison if convicted, while two other members, Robinson and Martin, face up to 20 years.
The Source: Information for this story is from a press conference held by the U.S Department of Justice and the FBI on March 19, 2025, in Los Angeles.