Eugene “Big U” Henley, the former Los Angeles gang leader who built a second public identity as a gang interventionist, now faces fresh federal charges accusing him of trying to arrange violence against a witness. Prosecutors say the alleged effort unfolded from inside federal custody, adding a dangerous new chapter to an already sprawling case.
The second superseding indictment adds charges of solicitation to commit a crime of violence and witness tampering, according to the Los Angeles Times. In June, Henley allegedly asked about the layout of a housing unit where he believed the witness was located, then offered two inmates money to kill or harm that person.
New Charges Expand An Already Sweeping Federal Case
Henley, 59, has been in federal custody since March 2025 and was already facing allegations including racketeering, murder, kidnapping, robbery, extortion and fraud. The new filing says he used his standing and connections to seek help from other inmates, though the allegations have not been proven in court.
Federal prosecutors previously described Henley’s alleged “Big U Enterprise” as a mafia-like organization that used his reputation and long-standing association with the Rollin’ 60s and other street gangs to intimidate businesses and individuals in Los Angeles. The U.S. Attorney’s Office said the original case also involved allegations of extortion, fraud, misuse of charity funds and the killing of an aspiring musician.
The indictment’s broader narrative reaches back to 2014, when Henley allegedly helped assault and chase a recording artist through Los Angeles International Airport over a debt, and to 2021, when prosecutors accused him of kidnapping and fatally shooting a young rapper before leaving the body in the Nevada desert. Henley has pleaded not guilty, and his attorney declined to comment on the new charges, the Times reported.
Witness Safety Has Been A Central Issue
The latest allegations land on top of earlier disputes over whether Henley should remain jailed while awaiting trial. At a prior detention hearing, prosecutors argued that he posed a danger to potential witnesses, while his defense characterized him as someone who had left gang life behind, according to Courthouse News Service.
The case has drawn attention in South Los Angeles because Henley’s public profile was built partly around community work and youth intervention. Hoodline previously reported on the original racketeering case, in which prosecutors alleged that Henley’s nonprofit and music businesses were used alongside violence, intimidation and financial schemes.
Trial Is Scheduled For February 2027
Henley and six co-defendants are scheduled to go to trial next year. A federal court calendar lists jury selection for February 16, 2027, while the new witness-tampering allegations could add further pretrial litigation to a case already packed with serious charges.
An indictment is an accusation, not a conviction. Henley is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt in federal court.
