Eugene “Big U” Henley’s request to be temporarily released so he could attend his son’s funeral rites has been denied.
During a hearing in California federal court on Monday (Nov. 17), Judge Fernando Aenlle-Rocha ruled that Big U would not be allowed to leave custody while awaiting trial on his RICO charges. Henley had hoped to be present for the Islamic funeral rites of his son Jabari, who was killed in South Los Angeles on Halloween.
Instead of granting the request, Judge Aenlle-Rocha offered an alternative: a private visitation with Jabari’s body and a remote video conference so Henley could watch the funeral service. It’s unclear for now whether Henley has accepted the option.
Jabari Henley’s Islamic rites are scheduled for Friday (Nov. 21), with the burial set for the following day — an event Big U did not seek permission to attend.
The ruling came just a day after federal prosecutors urged the court to reject Henley’s request, calling him too dangerous to be released, even briefly.
“Ultimately, the defendant’s release — for any amount of time — creates far too great a risk to justice in this case, and to human life,” the filing stated. “Defendant should remain detained for the safety of the community and the victims and witnesses of the crime.”
Prosecutors also listed several reasons they believed Henley should not be allowed out, including having phone sex with his girlfriend from behind bars and repeatedly breaking prison communication rules by using other inmates’ call privileges.
They also claimed Big U used “coded communications” during calls to relay messages to co-defendants who are currently free, instructing that “no one in the case be allowed to plead guilty” unless he does.
In last week’s application to attend the rites, Henley’s attorney described the request as deeply human, writing: “The death of one’s child represents an unparalleled human tragedy. The opportunity to attend and participate in the funeral rites is not literally a matter of personal preference, but a fundamental expression of human dignity.”
Henley is facing racketeering charges, accused of leading a “mafia-like” criminal organization.
The federal complaint against Henley and six others accuses them of a wide range of crimes including extortion, kidnapping, fraud, embezzlement, prostitution, and even murder.
