Judge Sets April 27 Trial Date for Eugene Henley
Los Angeles federal judge moves the racketeering trial of Nipsey Hussle's former manager from February to April 2027.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Financial Crime
A Los Angeles federal judge set April 27, 2027 as the new start date for the RICO trial of Eugene Henley, moving it from February 16, 2027. The change followed a request from Henley's attorneys, who had initially asked for an October 19, 2027 start date.
Why it matters
The delay gives Henley's defense more time to review a voluminous evidence record in a complex case that carries a possible sentence of life imprisonment. Prosecutors had opposed the postponement.
Henley's RICO trial is now set to begin April 27, 2027 in Los Angeles federal court, after a judge agreed to a shorter delay than the defense originally requested. The latest charges include allegations of a murder-for-hire plot against a witness, and the case is still pending.
The players
Eugene Henley
Former manager of rapper Nipsey Hussle who is facing federal RICO charges in Los Angeles.
Fernando Aenlle-Rocha
Los Angeles federal judge presiding over the case who set the new trial date.
The details
Henley's attorneys, who joined the case in late September 2025, amended their request at a Wednesday hearing in Los Angeles federal court to ask for an April 27 start date, which Judge Fernando Aenlle-Rocha granted. Henley is charged with extortion, kidnapping, fraud, embezzlement, prostitution, and murder, as alleged in the original criminal complaint.
Timeline
February 16, 2027: Original scheduled start date of the RICO trial.
November 4, 2026: Hearing at which the judge set the new April 27 trial date.
April 27, 2027: New trial start date.
Legal Context
The case is being prosecuted under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, which lets prosecutors tie together multiple alleged crimes committed by an enterprise. Prosecutions of this kind often involve large evidence productions that extend pretrial schedules.
Residents in Los Angeles may see continued court proceedings and related coverage through 2027 as the case moves toward trial. The delay means the case will remain pending for several more months before any verdict.
The takeaway
Large federal cases often take longer than expected to reach trial because of the volume of evidence, so the trial date can shift more than once before it begins.
What happens next
The trial is scheduled to begin April 27, 2027 in Los Angeles federal court.
Further reading
Explore more Financial Crime coverage from Los Angeles for context on cases like this one.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Complex.
