Keeping his federal racketeering trial on schedule was once a priority for Eugene "Big U" Henley, but he's now asking for another eight months to prepare his defense. The longtime Los Angeles music figure wants to postpone his February 2027 trial until October, arguing that his newly appointed attorneys need considerably more time to review the evidence against him.
According to Complex, Henley's attorneys filed an emergency motion Friday (Oct. 23) requesting an October 19, 2027, trial date. The court appointed lawyers Charles C. Brown and Andrea Luem on September 25, giving them less than five months to prepare for a case involving 50 federal counts. "The trial is complex, the discovery is voluminous, and Mr. Henley is facing a possible sentence of life imprisonment," his attorneys wrote. They argued that proceeding in February would leave them insufficient time to prepare an adequate defense.
Moreover, the amount of evidence is substantial. Prosecutors have provided more than 1.1 million pages of discovery, along with 29,612 audio and video files. Henley's lawyers also reported losing two paralegals who had been responsible for organizing evidence, further complicating their preparations.
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Big U Previously Opposed Delaying His RICO Trial
The request reverses Henley's position from earlier this year. In April, he personally objected when his former attorneys sought to postpone his trial from May 2026 to February 2027. U.S. District Judge Fernando Aenlle-Rocha ultimately granted that request despite Henley's opposition. His new attorneys acknowledged the contradiction but argued that circumstances have changed, particularly with their recent appointment.
"Mr. Henley has been in custody since March 2025, and he objected to the last continuance," the filing states. "The defense takes both facts seriously. But the record has changed since April."
Meanwhile, federal prosecutors aren't convinced another postponement is necessary. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Butler told the defense on October 19 that the government opposed another postponement. Henley's indictment accuses him of operating a criminal enterprise connected to the Rollin' 60s Neighborhood Crips. Prosecutors subsequently expanded the case with additional allegations, including witness tampering and soliciting violence against a witness. He has pleaded not guilty.
The defense is also asking the judge to cancel upcoming hearings and establish a revised pretrial schedule. Judge Aenlle-Rocha has not ruled on the emergency motion, meaning February 16, 2027, remains the scheduled trial date. If the request is granted, Henley will have spent more than two and a half years in federal custody before his trial begins.
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