Key Takeaways
- Eugene "Big U" Henley wants to move his federal RICO trial from February 16 to October 19, 2027, because his newly appointed attorneys say they need more time to prepare.
- The defense must review more than 1.1 million pages, 29,612 audio and video files, and roughly 219 gigabytes of evidence while Henley faces 50 counts and a possible life sentence.
- Federal prosecutors oppose another delay, and the judge has not yet ruled on Henley’s request; he has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody.
Eugene "Big U" Henley wants to delay his upcoming federal RICO trial by another eight months as his attorneys argue they need more time to prepare for the case.
According to court documents obtained by Complex, Henley's attorneys filed an emergency motion Friday (October 23) requesting that his trial be moved from February 16, 2027, to October 19, 2027.
The request comes after Henley's current attorneys, Charles C. Brown and Andrea Luem, were appointed on September 25, leaving them fewer than five months to prepare for a trial involving dozens of federal charges.
"The trial is complex, the discovery is voluminous, and Mr. Henley is facing a possible sentence of life imprisonment," the attorneys wrote. "After a careful review of the landscape of this case, Counsel for Mr. Henley has concluded that they will need more time to prepare."
According to the filing, prosecutors have turned over 42 batches of evidence totaling more than 1.1 million pages, 29,612 audio and video files, and approximately 219 gigabytes of data.
The evidence includes intercepted phone calls, surveillance footage, financial records, social media posts, and materials connected to a homicide investigation in North Las Vegas.
Henley's attorneys argue that reviewing the evidence, interviewing witnesses, and preparing legal challenges would be nearly impossible before February. They also revealed that the defense recently lost two paralegals responsible for organizing evidence and coordinating with other attorneys.
The latest request marks a change from Henley's previous position on delaying the trial.
In April, U.S. District Judge Fernando Aenlle-Rocha postponed the proceedings from May 2026 to February 2027 after defense attorneys requested additional preparation time. Henley personally objected to that delay.
However, his new attorneys say he understands why another postponement is necessary. "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."
Federal prosecutors oppose another postponement. According to the filing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Butler informed Henley's legal team on October 19 that the government opposed any further delay.
Henley faces 50 counts in a second superseding indictment filed July 29, including allegations of racketeering conspiracy, robbery, extortion, fraud, tax evasion, and witness tampering. He could face life imprisonment if convicted.
Henley has pleaded not guilty and disputes the allegations.
His attorneys are also requesting that upcoming hearings be canceled and a new pretrial schedule established. A proposed order outlining the changes was submitted with the motion, but the judge has not yet approved the requested trial date.
