A grand jury decided that there is enough evidence to charge Eugene “Big U” Henley with multiple criminal offenses after he was arrested in a gang takedown earlier this month. A press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Central District of California, confirmed a 43-count indictment details the alleged acts the 58-year-old carried out as leader of a mafia-style enterprise.
Officially, Henley is charged with the following:
“One count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, two counts of conspiracy to interfere with commerce by robbery and extortion (Hobbs Act), one count of Hobbs Act robbery, nine counts of attempted Hobbs Act extortion, five counts of Hobbs Act extortion, one count of transportation of an individual in interstate commerce with intent that the individual engage in prostitution (Mann Act), 15 counts of wire fraud, five counts of embezzlement, conversion, and intentional misapplication of funds from an organization receiving federal funds, one count of bank fraud, one count of tax evasion, and two counts of willful failure to file a tax return.”
Henley’s arraignment is scheduled for April 8, and his detention hearing is scheduled for April 10. If convicted, the supposed anti-gang activist faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison for the racketeering conspiracy count. Additionally, the bank fraud count is punishable by up to 30 years, the Hobbs Act conspiracy, robbery, and extortion, the wire fraud counts each carry a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison, and the theft concerning programs receiving federal funds count each carry a penalty of up to 10 years.
Also charged in the indictment are the following individuals, all currently in federal custody, according to the attorney’s office:
- Sylvester Robinson, 59, a.k.a. “Vey”
- Mark Martin, 50, a.k.a. “Bear Claw”
- Termaine Ashley Williams, 42, a.k.a. “Luce Cannon”
- Armani Aflleje, 38, a.k.a. “Mani”
- Fredrick Blanton Jr., 43
- Tiffany Shanrika Hines, 51
U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California
“As the indictment alleges, Mr. Henley led a criminal enterprise whose conduct ranged from murder to sophisticated fraud that included stealing from taxpayers and a charity,” detailed Acting United States Attorney Joseph McNally in the memo.
“Eradicating gangs and organized crime is the Department of Justice’s top priority. Today’s charges against the leadership of this criminal outfit will make our neighborhoods in Los Angeles safer.”
In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Henley’s attorney, John Targowski, exclaimed that his client “looks forward to a vigorous defense of these charges and maintains his innocence.”
L-R) Eugene “Big U” Henley. Alex Thomas, Norman Nixon and Chris Spencer attend the 53rd NAACP Image Awards Celebrity Golf Invitational on February 22, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
JC Olivera/Getty Images
Before his arrest, Henley released videos on social media asserting, “I ain’t did nothing.” The clips have since been deleted.
“If you had something against a Black man, you should handle it with a Black man in the streets. Wack said 100 times he was gonna take my contracts, he working with the FBI,” Henley exclaimed. “I ain’t been nothing but help to our community. But I guess it is what it is. This is the price of being Black and trying to help somebody, trying to help your community and do what you can. You just guilty because somebody else don’t like you and they go on the internet and do what the f**k they want to and y’all gon’ promote it.”
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