A music bigwig who helped launch Nipsey Hussle’s profession and was lauded as rap’s “godfather” has been accused of working a “Mafia-like” felony enterprise involving homicide, human trafficking, theft and extortion on the streets of Los Angeles.
Eugene Henley Jr. — often called “Large U” within the leisure world — was considered one of 18 members of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips avenue gang charged in a sprawling federal racketeering criticism, the US Lawyer’s Workplace mentioned Wednesday.
Henley has “maintained the picture of an leisure trade entrepreneur working a music label and of any person who offers again to the group right here in Los Angeles,” US Lawyer Joseph T. McNally mentioned whereas asserting the indictment.
“The info alleged within the criticism paint a really completely different image. It’s considered one of a assassin, a thief, a liar and a cheat and the criminals that enabled him.”
The 58-year-old, an alleged longtime chief of the infamous Crips gang, is accused of working the huge felony operation — dubbed the “Large U Enterprise” — like a mob boss, the criticism expenses.
Henley, who turned himself in late Wednesday after initially being listed by the feds as a fugitive, posted a video on Instagram earlier than his give up slamming the costs as “bull crap” and “straight trash.”
He’s suspected of being behind the 2021 slaying of aspiring rapper Rayshawn Williams, who was signed to his recording firm, Uneek Music, the feds mentioned.
Williams was allegedly shot and killed by Henley after the budding rapper recorded a diss observe about him at a Las Vegas studio, prosecutors mentioned. The sufferer’s physique was later discovered dumped in a ditch off Interstate 15 within the Nevada desert.
Henley additionally allegedly used his stature and long-standing affiliation with the Rollin’ 60s and different avenue gangs to intimidate companies and high-profile people relationship again to 2010, in response to prosecutors.
“Not solely did the enterprise develop its energy by means of violence, concern, and intimidation, however it additionally used social media platforms, documentaries, podcasts, interviews, and Henley’s fame and standing as an ‘O.G.’ [original gangster] to create fame for — and stoke concern of — the Large U Enterprise, its members, and its associates,” prosecutors mentioned.
As a part of his obvious grip on the Metropolis of Angels, Henley ordered rap artists, athletes and different guests to “examine in” with him and pay a payment earlier than arriving in LA to obtain safety.
Henley, who boasts greater than 30,000 Instagram followers, additionally fronted the enterprise whereas portraying himself as an anti-gang activist, the feds mentioned.
He allegedly embezzled donations to Growing Choices, an anti-gang charity he based that prosecutors say he used as a entrance for the felony operation.
By means of the charity, he allegedly embezzled massive donations from celebrities and NBA stars — together with Draymond Inexperienced and Lakers legend Shaquille O’Neal — into his private checking account, the criticism states.
The nonprofit is primarily funded by the LA Mayor’s Workplace and receives a bit of federal funding, prosecutors mentioned.
“Henley allegedly duped the County of Los Angeles by working a charitable group that promoted anti-gang options whereas persevering with felony exercise that was straight opposite to his charity,” mentioned FBI Particular Agent in Cost Tyler Hatcher.
He’s additionally suspected of submitting, at one level, a fraudulent software for a COVID-19 pandemic aid mortgage for Uneek Music.
Henley, for his half, ripped prosecutors in an Instagram video late Wednesday — accusing them of focusing on a black man for serving to out the group.
In a 2021 “Hip Hop Uncovered” docuseries that he helped produce, Henley detailed how he rose by means of the ranks of the infamous avenue gang within the ’80s earlier than he was nabbed for a theft in 1991 and served 13 years in jail.
He mentioned he began his charity quickly after he was reduce unfastened in 2004.
Henley then delved into the leisure world after being launched to an exec and went on to find Nipsey Hussle, in response to the documentary.
Within the sequence, rapper Wiz Khalifa mentioned he didn’t know anybody who has “truly touched as many superstars” as Henley.
“If I used to be to explain Large U’s function in rap, he would positively be the godfather,” Khalifa mentioned within the doc. “Can’t do nothing with out consulting him. He’s the one man who does transfer how he strikes.”
Among the many others charged within the sprawling criticism are Henley’s alleged right-hand man, Sylvester “Vey” Robinson, 59, and his trusted lieutenant, Mark “Bear Claw” Martin, 50.
All three are accused of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, the feds mentioned.
If convicted, Henley would face a max sentence of life in federal jail.
Supply hyperlink
