As many know, longtime LA community leader Eugene Henley Jr., or Big U, has said he'll represent himself in a sprawling federal RICO case. The development follows his lawyer, Arturo Hernandez, formally requesting to withdraw from the case, citing "irreconcilable differences" and a complete collapse in trust. In his filing, Hernandez did not mince words: "The attorney-client relationship has become strained to the point where continued representation would be unfair to both the client and the court."
Going to the judge without professional legal backup is a bold move for anybody, never mind in a high-stakes case like this one. But in court filings, Big U has said he just doesn't have the money to hire a new legal team. He has been in federal custody since he was arrested on March 19, awaiting a trial now scheduled for May 2026.
Big U is among 19 people charged in an extensive RICO indictment on March 17, linking all of them to the notorious Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips. The government contends the group ran a criminal enterprise that dabbled in drug dealing, robbery, and murder. The indictment further accuses Big U's community non-profit, Developing Options, of being a front used to wash dirty money and cover criminal activities.
The most serious charge now hanging over him? The 2021 murder of the rapper Rayshawn Williams, an artist who, according to music industry publication Digital Music News, had been signed to Big U's label. Prosecutors say the violence, including Williams' death, was part of a pattern employed to intimidate and keep control over various communities in Los Angeles.
Big U has been walking a fine line between the streets and the spotlight for years. He has been a public presence in outreach to the community, working to steer young people away from gang life, which makes these recent allegations all the more jarring, especially to those who used to look to him as the reformed voice of change. The court is not in the business of assessing reputations or community work but will decide based on evidence. Big U now appears to want to deliver his defense.
It's a high-stakes bet, and very few defendants have successfully made it. Federal RICO cases are notoriously tricky, with rigid sentencing guidelines and interlocking charges. Prosecutors come fully strapped, and Big U will find himself navigating that legal minefield without an attorney by his side if he self-represents. Big U's decision to go alone has transformed an already deliciously headlined case into something even more unpredictable.
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