Willie McGinest's off-the-field woes worsened after newly unsealed federal wiretaps connected him to an alleged cover-up run by infamous LA powerbroker Eugene "Big U" Henley. What was originally an ugly nightclub fight has turned into a full-fledged legal mess involving FBI surveillance, witness tampering, and entrenched street ties.
McGinest's trouble started in December 2022, when security footage from Delilah, a swanky West Hollywood hotspot, showed the former New England Patriots linebacker in a violent fight. The video, which circulated widely on social media, captured McGinest throwing punches and smashing a bottle over a man's head during the altercation.
A few days later, on December 19, 2022, McGinest turned himself in to authorities and was released on $30,000 bail. He was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and assault using force likely to cause significant bodily injury. These serious crimes carry potential sentences of up to four years in prison.
Faced with life-altering stakes, McGinest reportedly reached out to Big U, an infamous LA player with decades of connections to the Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips. This week, a federal criminal complaint spanning 107 pages was unsealed, revealing that Big U had gone into damage-control mode, quietly trying to influence the case and shield McGinest from prosecution.
FBI wiretaps from December 23, 2022, reportedly recorded Big U telling a relative of the victim, who was identified by the initials J.S., to "go to the lineup. Tell him he should choose the wrong person."
The recordings didn't end there. On January 2, 2023, Big U allegedly devised a full-blown cover-up plan. In a phone call intercepted by the authorities, he was heard telling associates:
"The young n#### gon say he stole his watch out the bathroom, and the former NFL player came to get his watch back and it turned into something else. He's going to apologize for stealing the former NFL player's watch… Dismiss the case."
By January 7, the FBI had Big U under surveillance as he rolled with the victim's father, reportedly attempting to persuade the family to change their story. In another intercepted call on January 9, Big U was allegedly instructed by an associate to ensure that the victim declined to press charges, but without any links to him.
Despite these purported efforts, McGinest's legal woes continued. While he apologized publicly and said he took "full responsibility," he pleaded not guilty in August 2023. The victim also filed a civil lawsuit, seeking to recover damages for the assault.
But the consequences did not end there. As soon as they heard about the indictments, the NFL Network, where McGinest had been an analyst, quickly suspended him before severing all ties in March 2023, as they made it clear that the league wanted nothing to do with such a high-profile scandal.
As McGinest struggles to prove his innocence, Big U faces a substantial legal fight. During a sweeping RICO investigation, he turned himself in to federal authorities on March 19, 2025. His organization, which prosecutors refer to as "Big U Enterprise," is accused of a whole host of crimes, including extortion, robbery, and human trafficking, as well as using city-funded nonprofit programs as fronts to enrich themselves with government grants.
A fight that appeared to be a typical bar brawl soon became part of a broader world of influence, intimidation, and underground power plays. As the legal battles play out, one thing isn't up for debate: this saga is just beginning.
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