Eugene ‘Big U’ Henley Charged in Mafia-like Crime Ring!

Federal authorities are actively searching for Eugene ‘Big U’ Henley, a music executive, who is accused of running a vast criminal operation linked to the Rollin’ 60s street gang.

Henley has been charged with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act for his role in a “mafia-like” enterprise. The Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that Henley used his connections to the gang to commit a range of criminal activities, including extortion, human trafficking, fraud, and even the 2021 murder of an aspiring rap artist. Henley is currently considered a fugitive, with federal authorities calling for his capture.

Two individuals tied to Henley’s organization—Sylvester Robinson, 59, aka “Vey,” and Mark Martin, 50, aka “Bear Claw”—were arrested Wednesday and are facing federal charges, including racketeering and conspiracy. The two are expected to appear in court soon.

The charges and arrests come after the DOJ uncovered evidence of a widespread criminal network spanning over a decade. Henley’s criminal enterprise, operating since 2010, allegedly leveraged his connections with street gangs to intimidate businesses, engage in violent acts, and exploit victims for profit.

The DOJ revealed that Henley’s “Big U Enterprise” was responsible for numerous crimes, including the 2021 murder of an aspiring rap musician known as “R.W.” Henley and his associate Robinson allegedly traveled to Las Vegas to confront the musician, who had reportedly defamed Henley by recording a song about him. The confrontation escalated into murder, with Henley allegedly shooting the rapper in the head and abandoning his body in the desert.

In addition to the murder, Henley is accused of submitting fraudulent applications for pandemic relief loans, claiming that his music label, Uneek Music, had made a significant profit in 2019 despite operating at a loss. He is also accused of embezzling funds from his nonprofit organization, Developing Options, which was intended to help young people stay away from gang violence. Henley allegedly redirected donations from celebrities and organizations into his personal accounts, defrauding donors, including the City of Los Angeles, which funded the nonprofit through the Gang Reduction Youth Development (GRYD) Foundation.

The DOJ emphasized that Henley’s charitable efforts were a front for his ongoing criminal activities. Henley used the nonprofit to maintain a public image of being an anti-gang activist while continuing to run his criminal enterprise.

Tyler Hatcher, Special Agent in Charge of IRS Criminal Investigation in Los Angeles, stated that Henley’s actions represent a pattern of crime involving extortion, tax evasion, and other illegal activities. “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,” Hatcher said.

If convicted, Henley faces life in prison. Robinson and Martin, should they be convicted, are each facing up to 20 years in federal prison.

Authorities continue to investigate the case and urge anyone with information regarding Henley’s whereabouts to come forward.