Longtime LA gang leader suspected of murder and human trafficking declares his innocence in video
LOS ANGELES (AP) — An alleged leader of a Los Angeles street gang who's accused of murder, kidnapping and extortion was expected to appear in court Thursday, a day after he posted a video declaring his innocence before surrendering to federal authorities.
Eugene Henley Jr., known as 'Big U,' was one of 18 members of the Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips suspected of a litany of federal crimes including drug trafficking, conspiracy, and firearms offenses, the U.S. attorney's office said in a statement Wednesday.
Before turning himself in on Wednesday, the self-described community activist recorded videos denying the accusations.
'This the price of being Black and trying to help somebody, trying to help your community and do what you can," Henley said. "You just guilty because somebody else don't like you.'
His appearance in federal court was scheduled for Thursday afternoon, the federal prosecutors' office said. The Associated Press could not locate an attorney for Henley.
Henley, 58, and two others are accused of violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO.
Henley allegedly masterminded a criminal operation that investigators dubbed the 'Big U Enterprise,' and is also suspected of embezzling donations to Developing Options, an anti-gang charity he founded but which prosecutors say he used 'as a front for fraudulent purposes and to insulate its members from suspicion by law enforcement.'
He is suspected in the 2021 killing of an aspiring rap musician who was signed to his recording company, Uneek Music, according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors said Henley ran the enterprise like a mob boss and used his stature and long-standing association with the Rollin' 60s and other street gangs to intimidate businesses and individuals in Los Angeles.
If convicted, he could face a statutory maximum sentence of life in federal prison.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘Bloodthirsty' Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller Want More Military on Streets
Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem are two of the loudest voices in the room encouraging Donald Trump to militarize Los Angeles, a presidential aide has disclosed. Both urged the president to federalize and deploy California Army National Guard troops and send U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in response to protests against federal immigration raids, even though local officials opposed the move. 'Stephen has been clear in all the meetings: More military, faster,' a Trump adviser told Axios. Miller has called for using the military to crack down on protesters who try to block federal agents from making immigration arrests, even though federal troops are generally barred from domestic policing. He's been backed by Noem, who is 'practically bloodthirsty' in demanding tougher immigration enforcement, the adviser said. On Sunday, the homeland security secretary asked Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to instruct U.S. Marines to arrest rioters. A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security told Axios in a statement that Noem is 'antithetical to bloodthirsty—she is trying to prevent bloodshed.' The Daily Beast has reached out to the White House and DHS for comment. Trump took the extraordinary step over the weekend of deploying 4,000 National Guard troops and hundreds of U.S. Marines to Los Angeles in defiance of California Gov. Gavin Newsom's warnings that sending in federal troops would only make things worse. 'This brazen abuse of power by a sitting president inflamed a combustible situation, putting our people, our officers, and even our National Guard at risk,' Newsom said. The governor has sued to block the deployments. After five days of protests, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass enacted a partial curfew Tuesday night for downtown L.A. The reason, she said, was to 'stop bad actors who are taking advantage of the president's chaotic escalation.' Rioters have set off fireworks at officers, lit cars on fire, and thrown pieces of concrete at police, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Video also shows the police using tear gas, flash-bangs, and non-lethal bullets to disperse crowds downtown. City officials, however, have said that the people peacefully protesting during the day are not the same ones who are clashing with police at night. Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said Sunday that Trump had called in the National Guard troops prematurely. The president has long regretted not sending in the National Guard to quell the 2020 protests that broke out in major cities nationwide after the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man. At the time, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark A. Milley, convinced Trump not to invoke the Insurrection Act or deploy active-duty troops against the protesters. A federal law known as the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits using federal troops for domestic policing, except when expressly authorized by the Constitution or an act of Congress, according to the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law. The main exception to the rule is the Insurrection Act, a compilation of statutes that allows the U.S. president to use the military to quash an armed rebellion or other insurrection, according to Lawfare. As of Wednesday, the president hadn't invoked the Insurrection Act, which limits the federal troops' mission to protecting federal property and personnel. According to Axios, that hasn't stopped Noem and Miller from calling for the military to do more, faster.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Attacker grabs female runner on Rochester trail in disturbing assault
Attacker grabs female runner on Rochester trail in disturbing assault originally appeared on Bring Me The News. A male allegedly grabbed a female runner and "simulated sexual acts" as she was running along a bike path in Rochester last weekend. On Wednesday, Rochester Police Department issued an appeal to the public regarding the assault. The department says the female was running on the path near the 800 block of 16th Street Southwest around 10 a.m. Sunday, June 8, when the suspect approached her from behind. The suspect grabbed her and simulated sexual acts before she broke away and fled. "The suspect is described as a thin Black male in his 20s, approximately 6 feet tall. He was last seen wearing a Minnesota Twins beanie and red pants," police said. "This incident bears similarities to a report from April 2025, in which a male suspect matching a similar description inappropriately touched a female runner near the Soldiers Field area." Police are urging anyone with information about the suspect to call Detective Craig Jacobsen at 507-328-6800. "People are encouraged to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings when using bike paths and trails are urged to call 911 if suspicious behavior is observed," police said. This story was originally reported by Bring Me The News on Jun 11, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial: Prosecution Seeks Removal of Juror in Case
Originally appeared on E! Online The prosecution is raising its concerns. As day 21 of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex tracking trial began, assistant U.S. attorney Maurene Comey shared June 11 that her team is seeking to remove one of the 12 members of the jury, according to NBC News reporters in the courtroom. 'We were very reluctant to put in this letter,' she told Judge Arun Subramanian before the jury entered the New York City courtroom. 'It appeared to be a lack of candor with the court that raises serious issues with us.' The lead prosecutor added, 'We did not want to do this. We were compelled to do that.' Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro—who said that Juror No. 6 is among the panel's Black members—asked for one or two days to 'respond in writing' and 'go over case law.' The conversation comes after concerns about the juror were first brought forward yesterday by the prosecution in a sealed conversation with the judge. However, in the partial transcript obtained by NBC News, Shapiro said the defense opposed removing the juror and wanted the 'opportunity to be heard' before any decisions were made. More from E! Online 1000-Lb Sisters: Tammy Slaton Unveils Transformation After Skin Removal Surgery Gilligan's Island Star Tina Louise Makes Rare Public Outing at 91 Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau's Daughter Audrey Welcomes First Baby With Fiancé Judge Subramanian said today that he will 'reserve on handling logistics' about the juror—who also stayed the full duration of day 20—until a decision is made. With the jury seated, Combs' ex-girlfriend—who is going by 'Jane' during the trial and was identified as 'Victim-2' in the indictment—returned for her second day of cross-examination. The witness has continued to testify to the alleged emotional, physical and financial abuse she suffered during their relationship. She said that participating in 'hotel nights,' details of which are nearly identical to the 'freak offs' his ex recalled in her testimony, felt like a responsibility since she was financially dependent on him. With Combs paying her rent since April 2023, Jane admitted that she felt resentful after being 'introduced' to a lifestyle that was 'built under a lot of emotional manipulation and pressure.' 'I was already so hooked from the beginning,' she testified June 10. 'I fell in love with somebody who I didn't understand the terms and conditions of what our relationship would be like.' She also testified that Combs had physically assaulted her during arguments, including in one instance where she accused him of kicking and punching her after learning that he was seeing another woman. Combs has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, as well as transportation to engage in prostitution. For more live updates from Diddy's trial, keep reading. (E! News and NBC News are part of the NBCUniversal family.) Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Has Heated Exchange With Defense Team During Cross-ExaminationSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says She Wondered What Was 'Driving Him' SexuallySean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Mentions Koby Bryant, Shaquille O'Neil and Michael Jordan During TestimonySean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says Mogul's Chief of Staff 'Influenced a Great Deal' of Their RomanceJudge Denies Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Defense Team's Second Motion for a MistrialSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Details Hourslong 2024 BeatingSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says Attack By Rapper Left Her 'Golfball-sized' WeltsSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Details Homeland Security Raid at Her HomeSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says He Threatened To Release Sex TapesSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says She Fainted After Reading Cassie Ventura's LawsuitSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says She Threw Up 3 Times During 'Hotel Night' Without DrugsSean 'Diddy' Combs' Legal Team Makes Second Request For MistrialSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says He Is Still Paying Her RentSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Testifies About Physical Toll of 'Hotel Nights'Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says He Surprised Her With an Escort On Her BirthdaySean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Details Alleged Birthday 'Hotel Night' Session in Emotional TestimonySean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says Longest 'Hotel Night' Lasted Over Three DaysSean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says He Didn't Want to Use Protection During 'Hotel Nights'Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Says Her First 'Freak Off' Opened 'Pandora's Box'Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Ex Accuses Him of Financially Threatening HerAlleged Victim "Jane" Says Sean "Diddy" Combs Made Her Have Sex With Multiple Men During "Hotel Nights"Judge Threatens to Throw Sean "Diddy" Combs Out of the CourtroomCassie Ventura's Friend Accused Sean 'Diddy' Combs of Dangling Her Off Balcony in $10 Million LawsuitSean 'Diddy' Combs Accused of Dangling Cassie Ventura's Friend From 17th Floor Balcony For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App