Accused Crips chief indicted: A Grammy-winning witness, NBA all-star’s $3-million debt
A federal grand jury indictment returned this week in opposition to accused gang chief Eugene “Massive U” Henley revealed new particulars in regards to the attain of his alleged “mafia-like group” and the celebrities who had been entangled in it.
Henley, who helped launch Nipsey Hussle’s profession, was beforehand charged in a 107-page felony criticism and ultimately arrested final week. The 43-count indictment returned Wednesday means a grand jury believes there’s sufficient proof to cost Henley.
The grand jury indicted Henley, 58, on costs together with fraud, theft, extortion, tax evasion, embezzlement of donations to his charity, which receives public cash, and operating a racketeering conspiracy during which he allegedly murdered an aspiring rapper, in line with the U.S. Lawyer’s Workplace in L.A.
Henley’s lawyer didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
“Because the indictment alleges, Mr. Henley led a felony enterprise whose conduct ranged from homicide to stylish fraud that included stealing from taxpayers and a charity,” stated Appearing U.S. Atty. Joseph McNally. “Eradicating gangs and arranged crime is the Division of Justice’s prime precedence.”
Earlier than turning himself in, Henley made movies denying the accusations in opposition to him saying, “I ain’t did nothing.”
“I ain’t been nothing however a assist to our group,” Henley stated on the movies. “This the value of being Black and attempting to assist any individual, attempting to assist your group and do what you may. You simply responsible as a result of any individual else don’t such as you.”
Within the indictment, prosecutors referenced these movies, calling them “an try to poison the jury pool.” In addition they accused Henley of fleeing from regulation enforcement and obstructing the investigation.
In line with the indictment, Henley’s telephones stopped reporting location knowledge round 12:30 a.m. on March 19, hours earlier than regulation enforcement executed arrests tied to the case. Earlier than allegedly fleeing his dwelling in South L.A., authorities stated Henley left a subpoena associated to the investigation on a desk close to a hat for the Seattle Mariners, a sports activities workforce adopted by Rollin’ 60s Neighborhood Crips members as a logo of the gang.
Federal authorities stated Henley is an admitted member and “authentic gangster” or “OG” of the Rollin’ 60s. Greater than a dozen alleged members or associates of the Rollin’ 60s Crips — together with Henley — have been charged within the sprawling felony case.
The indictment additional expanded on Henley’s purported grip on L.A. and the alleged victims who “had been required to ‘verify in’” with Henley so as to acquire “safety” earlier than arriving within the metropolis.
In line with the indictment, Henley recorded video of a movie crew in Hyde Park in about 2017 and stated on the recording, “Anytime you need to do films within the hood, simply verify it in . . . , however if you happen to don’t verify it in, we going to verify you in alright . . . . We going to verify in all of your tools.”
That video has additionally made the rounds on social media in latest days.
The indictment additionally supplied extra info on the circumstances surrounding the Las Vegas homicide of Rayshawn Williams, an aspiring rapper. Authorities have accused Henley of kidnapping and fatally capturing Williams within the face and leaving his physique within the Las Vegas desert in 2021.
In line with prosecutors, Henley had organized for Williams to document music at a studio owned by a Grammy-winning producer in Las Vegas. That producer, recognized as Witness-2 within the felony criticism, advised authorities that Henley was utilizing his studio free of charge “based mostly on the worry and energy dynamic imposed over Witness-2 by the Massive U Enterprise for years.”
In an affidavit filed with the criticism, Andrew Roosa, a particular agent with the FBI, stated that earlier than Williams’ dying, the younger rapper recorded a diss tune that Roosa believed was about Henley.
As well as, in line with the indictment, Henley allegedly organized for a co-conspirator to gather an unlawful debt in November 2022 from a present NBA All-Star participant who purportedly owed $3 million to a Massive U Enterprise affiliate.
Henley, in a number of wiretapped calls, allegedly recounted sending the co-conspirator to Minnesota to gather a number of hundred thousand {dollars} on behalf of somebody he known as “Jew Boy.” Henley allegedly took a portion of the debt owed as a payment for gathering it.
The indictment additionally included particulars from wiretapped calls during which Henley allegedly stated he was “greater” than Nipsey Hussle and that he had disciplined Hussle earlier than the rapper’s homicide in 2019.
In “Hip Hop Uncovered,” a six-part documentary sequence for which Henley was an government producer, he stated Hussle made a “diss” tune about him after the 2 had a falling out over music tools.
“I ain’t no rapper, I’m a scrapper,” Henley stated.
On the present, Henley stated he tried to choose Hussle as much as get “disciplined,” however that Hussle’s brother intervened and wouldn’t let him go. In line with the criticism, LAPD studies documented that violence erupted and when law enforcement officials arrived on the scene, a firearm was current and discharged.
Henley stated he and Hussle talked that evening “and it was by no means nothing after that.”
In 2023, Eric Holder Jr. was sentenced to at the very least 60 years in jail for killing Hussle.
Though social media posts have tried accountable Henley for Hussle’s dying, authorities haven’t linked him to the homicide. “Hip Hop Uncovered” additionally referenced the conspiracy theories, which Henley known as “the dumbest s— on the earth.”
“All these weirdos pop up out of nowhere with totally different tales to promote this,” Henley stated.
On a wiretapped name in January 2023, Henley confirmed that he wasn’t feuding with Hussle, in line with the indictment. He allegedly added that nobody might “beef” with him as a result of in the event that they did, “I’ma kill him. Interval. I. Am. Going. To. Homicide. Him.”
Henley is in federal custody and his arraignment is scheduled for April 8. His detention listening to is scheduled for April 10.
Additionally charged within the indictment are Sylvester Robinson, 59, a.okay.a. “Vey,” of Northridge; Mark Martin, 50, a.okay.a. “Bear Claw,” of the Beverlywood space of Los Angeles; Termaine Ashley Williams, 42, a.okay.a. “Luce Cannon,” of Las Vegas; Armani Aflleje, 38, a.okay.a. “Mani,” of the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles; Fredrick Blanton Jr., 43, of South Los Angeles; and Tiffany Shanrika Hines, 51, of Yorba Linda.
If convicted on all counts, Henley can be in jail for all times.
