The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced last week that Eugene Henley Jr., aka “Big U,” has been charged in a 107-page federal complaint, accusing him of running “a criminal enterprise that committed a series of racketeering crimes, including extortion, human trafficking, fraud, and the 2021 murder of an aspiring rap musician.” In court documents, Henley and alleged co-conspirators were described as “Mafia-like.”

Henley is the longtime leader of the Los Angeles-based Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips street gang. He is also referred to by some as a community activist and a show business entrepreneur.

The Rollin’ 60s Crips were first described by the New York Times in a 1992 article and created their “set” of the Crips gang based on their LA location, between the numbered streets of the area. The FBI said the Rollin’ 60s is “a violent criminal street gang with associated sets in several other states.”

The group is famous for including successful rappers, such as Hussle, who was later killed in a drive-by shooting of another member of the Rollin’ 60s.

Henley was charged by the DOJ with conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Two others, 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 also arrested and charged in the federal criminal complaint alongside Mr. Henley.

Currently, Henley is a fugitive, but Robinson and Martin appeared in the United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles a few days ago.

Besides the charges brought against Henley, Robinson, and Martin, authorities arrested ten more Rollin’ 60s members and associates. These ten individuals were charged with federal crimes such as drug trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and firearms offenses. The DOJ noted that four of the defendants were already in custody.

In addition to the persons already arrested, the DOJ is seeking five other suspects. Henley and two more defendants are considered fugitives and have not yet been found by authorities.

Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally said the charges and arrests will protect the neighborhoods where the Rollin’ 60s were present.

“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 Mr. McNally. “Eliminating gangs and organized crime is the Department of Justice’s top priority. Today’s charges and arrests target the leadership of this criminal outfit and will make the neighborhoods of Los Angeles safer. I am grateful for the work of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners.”

In an affidavit plus the criminal complaint unsealed last week, the DOJ accuses Henley’s Big U Enterprise a “criminal group” guilty of illegal actions.

Legal documents allege that Big U Enterprise “operated as a mafia-like organization that utilized Henley’s stature and long-standing association with the Rollin’ 60s and other street gangs to intimidate businesses and individuals in Los Angeles. Henley is widely regarded as a leader within the Rollin’ 60s and rose to prominence in the street gang during the 1980s.”

The federal complaint alleges that Big U Enterprise was sometimes partnered with the Rollin’ 60s and “other criminal elements for mutual benefit.” Additionally, the complaint describes the Big U Enterprise as “a distinct and independent criminal enterprise engaged in criminal activity including murder, extortion, robbery, trafficking and exploiting sex workers, fraud, and illegal gambling.”

In one example of the crimes alleged against Henley, the court documents claim that “in January 2021, Henley murdered a victim – identified in the affidavit as “R.W.” – an aspiring musician signed to Uneek Music, Henley and Martin’s music label. Shortly before R.W.’s murder, Henley and Uneek Music paid for R.W. to travel to Las Vegas to record music at a Grammy Award-winning music producer’s studio.”

The complaint alleges that when the musician R.W. disagreed with the terms and payment of his recording, he recorded a “defamatory song” about Henley. Legal documents claim this was the motive for the death of R.W., who was shot in the head.

“Henley allegedly drove R.W. to North Las Vegas, shot him in the head, and dragged the victim’s body off Interstate 15 into the desert and left it in a ditch,” the complaint reads. “Henley returned to Los Angeles with Robinson and ordered studio workers to leave while his associate removed security surveillance footage from the studio. Henley allegedly later ordered witnesses to not speak with law enforcement about R.W.’s murder.”

Working out of the LA field office, the FBI was investigating the group for four years.

“The lead defendant and others in this case have for too long gotten away with violent acts and stealing money from taxpayers and well-intentioned donors whether they use intimidation tactics or wield influence as purportedly rehabilitated original gangsters,” said Akil Davis, the Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI's Los Angeles Field Office. “The FBI and our partners have worked for four years to bring justice in this case and will continue to root out this kind of criminal behavior plaguing the streets of Los Angeles.”

The allegations against Henley and others were further described in a DOJ press release which noted that “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.” 

Another allegation noted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California contended that “Henley allegedly submitted a fraudulent application for a COVID-19 pandemic relief loan in which he claimed that Uneek Music 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.” 

“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.”

If convicted, Henley could be sentenced to life in federal prison. Co-defendants Robinson and Martin could each face up to 20 years in federal prison. 

Criminal complaints and indictments contain allegations. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.