Eugene Henley Jr, better known as Big U, is perhaps most notoriously known as an alleged prominent gang member of the Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips.
One of 18 other gang members, Big U, was arrested this week after being charged with federal crimes, including drug trafficking, conspiracy, and firearms offenses, as authorities say his “Big U Enterprises” was a “mafia-like organization” that had “stature and long-standing association with the Rollin’ 60s and other street gangs to intimidate businesses and individuals.”
Aside from being hit with a RICO, he was also an entrepreneur, helped launch Nipsey Hussle‘s career, and started his non-profit, Developing Options Inc., after serving 13 years of a 23-year prison sentence.
But now, he’s been accused of using his ties to the rich and famous after “persuading” them to donate to his cause, which includes donations from Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal and Golden State Warrior Draymond Green, according to a 107-page federal complaint published Wednesday.
The Los Angeles Times dug deep into the allegations and discovered that Green wrote a $20,000 check to the non-profit in August 2019; however, all of it was transferred into Henley’s personal account. Similarly, Shaq wrote a check of an undisclosed amount to the non-profit and the Crenshaw Rams youth football team, which was later transferred to Henley’s account as well.
His influence in the world of sports continued as a professional boxer —only mentioned as A.B. in the paperwork— cheated NBA players out of a total of $6.5 million in a dice game. The players, one a former all-star and another a current all-star complained to Henley, who got them their money back but charged a $100,000 finders fee. Henley reportedly told his associates to “rough up” the professional boxer for not “checking in with him upon arriving in the city, thus ensuring his safety.
Henley’s also facing a murder charge, as the feds say he killed a musician with the initials R.W, who was signed to his label. However, after the payment issue, R.W. recorded a diss song toward him, which started a trail of bad blood.
With a RICO charge and murder, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California, the 58-year-old is facing a maximum of life in prison.
See how social media is reacting to the case below.