---
title: "Federal Prosecutors Add Witness-Tampering Charges Against Eugene 'Big U' Henley Jr."
description: "A superseding indictment adds seven felony counts, including allegations that Henley tried from jail to pay other inmates to kill or injure a witness. His attorney says he maintains his innocence. Trial is set for February 2027."
category: "Los Angeles"
category_url: https://herald.la/category/los-angeles
author: "Valeria Ortiz"
published: 2026-07-31T04:55:00.000Z
updated: 2026-07-31T04:55:00.000Z
canonical: https://herald.la/article/federal-prosecutors-add-witness-tampering-charges-against-eugene-big-u-henley-jr
tags: ["courts", "federal-prosecution", "crime", "racketeering", "los-angeles"]
---
# Federal Prosecutors Add Witness-Tampering Charges Against Eugene 'Big U' Henley Jr.

A superseding indictment adds seven felony counts, including allegations that Henley tried from jail to pay other inmates to kill or injure a witness. His attorney says he maintains his innocence. Trial is set for February 2027.

Federal prosecutors have added seven felony counts against Eugene "Big U" Henley
Jr., the music label owner and alleged Rollin' 60s Crips figure who has been in
federal custody since his arrest last year.

The most serious of the new allegations is that Henley tried to arrange an attack
on a witness while awaiting trial. Nothing here has been proven: these are
charges in a superseding indictment, Henley has not been convicted of them, and
he is presumed innocent.

## What the new counts allege

The superseding indictment adds two counts of solicitation to commit a crime of
violence, two counts of tampering with a witness, victim or informant, one count
of conspiracy to transport an individual across state lines for prostitution, and
two counts of wire fraud,
[according to the charging document as reported by ABC7](https://abc7.com/post/music-exec-alleged-la-gang-leader-eugene-big-henley-jr-accused-new-indictment/19604394/).

On the witness allegations, prosecutors say that in June, Henley asked two inmates
housed with him about the layout of the unit where he believed a witness was being
held, and offered to pay them to kill or harm that person to stop them from
testifying against him or others in his alleged organization.

The prostitution count concerns conduct prosecutors date to late 2022 and early
2023, alleging Henley sent a co-defendant, Armani Aflleje, $1,000 by Zelle to rent
vehicles used to move women across state lines, followed by a further $500. The
wire fraud counts include a
[COVID-19 disaster loan application that prosecutors say contained false statements](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/feds-accuse-big-u-of-plot-to-attack-witness-other-new-charges/3923777/)
about his business, Celebrity Socks.

## The underlying case

The new counts attach to a case that has been running since March 2025, when a
federal grand jury returned a 43-count indictment charging Henley with a
racketeering conspiracy along with robbery, extortion, wire fraud and
embezzlement. Prosecutors allege Henley ran what they call the "Big U Enterprise."

Henley, 59, was ordered held in federal custody in April 2025. He is scheduled to
stand trial in February 2027.

## The defense

Henley's attorney, Peter Johnson, said his client
["maintains his innocence and looks forward to addressing these allegations at trial, where the facts, not headlines, will control."](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/feds-accuse-big-u-of-plot-to-attack-witness-other-new-charges/3923777/)
Johnson said the defense would "continue to defend him vigorously and ask that the
public respect the presumption of innocence and his right to a fair trial."

That request is worth taking seriously, and not only as a formality. A superseding
indictment is the government's account of what it intends to prove. It is written
by prosecutors, it is not tested by cross-examination, and a grand jury hears only
one side. Everything above is an allegation until a jury says otherwise.

## What happens next

Henley is expected to be arraigned on the new counts, at which point a plea will
be entered. The February 2027 trial date covers Henley and several co-defendants
together, and adding counts this close to a complex multi-defendant trial
frequently produces defense motions over timing and severance. Whether the new
charges move that date is the first thing to watch.

## Sources

- [Music exec, alleged LA gang leader Eugene 'Big U' Henley Jr. accused in new federal indictment](https://abc7.com/post/music-exec-alleged-la-gang-leader-eugene-big-henley-jr-accused-new-indictment/19604394/)
- [Feds accuse 'Big U' of plot to attack witness, other new charges](https://www.nbclosangeles.com/investigations/feds-accuse-big-u-of-plot-to-attack-witness-other-new-charges/3923777/)