A rap industry executive, who is also an alleged leader of the Crips street gang, was indicted on numerous federal charges Thursday for what the Department of Justice (DOJ) termed a “mafia-like” criminal operation.

Eugene “Big U” Henley, Jr., 58, faces allegations including one count of conspiracy to violate the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, connected to his purported crime syndicate based in Los Angeles, as stated by the DOJ.

Additional charges against Henley include nine counts of attempted extortion under the Hobbs Act, five counts of Hobbs Act extortion, one count concerning an interstate prostitution network, 15 counts of wire fraud, five charges of embezzlement for allegedly taking funds from a federally and city-backed charity, one count each of bank fraud and tax evasion, along with two counts of willfully failing to file a tax return.

According to Yahoo! Sports, former NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal donated to GRYD. So did current NBA player Draymond Green. The Developing Options website has a front-page photo of rapper Snoop Dogg posing with youth football players. 

The Los Angeles Times reported that Henley helped launch the career of the late rapper Nipsey Hussle, a fellow Rollin’ 60s Crip who was shot and killed in Los Angeles in 2021. 

Henley was also featured in the FX docuseries “Hip-Hop Uncovered.”

Eugene “Big U” Henley, Snoop Dogg and Trick Trick attend FX’s docu-series “Hip Hop Uncovered” Los Angeles premiere on Feb. 10, 2021. (Leon Bennett/Getty Images)

“The RICO charges against Mr. Henley and his associates reflect a pattern of crimes that runs the gambit from extortion to tax evasion, all under the umbrella of a well-organized criminal organization led by Mr. Henley,” said Special Agent in Charge Tyler Hatcher, IRS Criminal Investigation, Los Angeles Field Office.

“Additionally, Mr. Henley allegedly duped the County of Los Angeles by running a charitable organization that promoted anti-gang solutions while continuing criminal activity that was directly contrary to his charity. IRS-CI is proud to partner with fellow law enforcement organizations to investigate these criminal organizations to protect our communities from further harm.”

The FBI was credited with assisting in the investigation. 

“Mr. Henley looks forward to a vigorous defense of these charges and maintains his innocence,” his attorney John Targowski told Fox News Digital.