Eugene “Big U” Henry, the leader of the accused clip, will remain behind the bar while facing charges of fraud, robbery, terror and assault, a federal judge in Los Angeles ruled Tuesday.
As 58-year-old Henry sat quietly in a white jumpsuit, US Magistrate Judge A. Joel Richlyn cited violent allegations against him, including the murder of an ambitious rapper and what he called “many evidence of obstruction of justice.”
To ensure Henry remains in custody despite trial, Richlyn said he is concerned that Henry may run away and that he is potentially dangerous to the community.
“There are no conditions or combinations that reasonably guarantee future emergence in Mr. Henry’s court case or community safety,” Richlin said before the ruling.
Henry’s lawyer, Arturo Hernandez, said his client could be locked up in his home and monitored electronically. He also cited the fact that his client’s loved ones had posted millions of dollars worth of property to secure his release.
“You have to give him a chance,” said Hernandez, who represented the cartel members.
“This was the defendant’s second chance,” our assistant Atty said. Kevin Butler immediately told the judge.
Henry previously served in prison for 13 years as he tried to steal a lieutenant of a 33-pound cocaine undercover agent. He was charged last month with 43 counts, including tax evasion. Embezzlement of his donations to charities receiving public funds. And he runs a conspiracy of assault, where he was kidnapped and allegedly shot a young rapper named Rayshawn Williams.
Henry pleaded not guilty to all charges. And before turning himself, he made a video denying the accusations against him and saying, “I did nothing.”
“I was nothing more than a helping hand to our community,” Henry said in the video. “It’s about being black and trying to help someone, help your community, and do what you can.”
After the hearing, Hernandez said he had planned to appeal the ruling. Henry’s wife, who attended the hearing and sometimes wiped out her tears, declined to comment.
Federal authorities said Henley, who helped rapper Nipsey Hussle launch the career, created an image of herself as an entrepreneur in the entertainment industry, and someone gave back to the community. But behind the scenes, they said it was a different story.
“Before today’s court, he is the most dangerous man in Los Angeles,” Butler said during the detention hearing. “Accusation in this case… Please prove that this is an accurate explanation.”
Butler argued that it was the court to release Henry. “He will also be the most dangerous man in this case, as his entire criminal enterprise is based on fear, intimidation and control.”
“Runs over the victims, dominance over the enemy, dominance over the witnesses, dominance over the Los Angeles,” Butler said.
In federal complaints, authorities compared Henry’s “large U-Enterprise” to a “mafia-like organization.” This relied on “height and longstanding associations with the 60s and other street gangs.”
In a simple filing filed prior to the hearing, federal authorities stated, “To avoid custody, the defendant will undoubtedly continue his double dealing.
“Even in his short time in custody, he is left to his old tricks and is trying to use some of the same celebrities again for his personal benefit,” the government said. “He proposed that the President of the United States could intervene and file accusation despite the president simultaneously referring to the President while in detention as the ‘Orange Man’.
Amidst the alleged crime, federal authorities accused Henry of vanquishing a La Marijuana clinic robbery that has not prevented him from stopping his extortion payments and fraudulently obtaining funds from gang reduction and youth development programs overseen by the LA Mayor’s office.
Butler admitted at the hearing that Williams’ murder was “more in circumstantial cases,” but he argued that the remaining evidence and charges could “not be seriously challenged.” He told the judge that alleged fear tor was captured on video, audio and telephone, and embezzlement, charity fraud and tax crimes were documented.
Butler told the judge that the night before his arrest, Henry turned off the phone and let him get away from the house.
“One of the potential witnesses of his crime actually asked the government when he approached, ‘If you can’t even arrest him, how can you promise to keep me safe?'” Butler said. “That’s a legitimate concern and it gets worse if he’s released on bail.”
More than dozens of Henry’s family and friends attended court Tuesday afternoon, denounced people who surrendered to authorities and posted to social media for lawsuits against him before prosecutors performed a video he had made. He criticized Christopher Lovejoy, a boxer known as the “600” in the front row.
Butler denied Henry’s claim, saying, “None of these individuals ever spoke to law enforcement on this team.”
Tensions rose ahead of the hearing. Henry’s family confronted Lovejoy, questioning why he was in court and whether he was there to testify. And they accused Lovejoy, who has over 100,000 Instagram followers, of being disrespectful to Henley.
“I’m here to support you,” he told his family.
“Who?” A woman who identifies herself as Henry’s sister asked.
“The Court,” he replied.
When Lovejoy entered the courtroom, he sat in the front row and said to Henry, “How are you, man?” Henry did not respond or react.
During the hearing, Hernandez called the government’s case “implication” and “predictions.” He praised the client for handing over the client to authorities, saying it was a sign that Henry was not innocent.
“All the government wants to do is throw a lot of things on the wall and see what’s stuck on,” Hernandez said.
At one point, Richlyn asks Henry if he’s okay. Henry, who was dealing with convulsions in front of him, told the judge that he was “stressed.”
When Richlin handed over his sentence, he called the charges “very extensive” and said “the court believes there is long evidence, long evidence, not implied in the charges.”
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