USA Rapper Lil Durk Acquitted in Murder For Hire Trial

USA Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk was acquitted on Friday of all charges in a federal murder-for-hire USA case accusing him of orchestrating the revenge killing of a man shot dead in a daytime ambush in Los Angeles four years ago.The USA Chicago rapper was arrested in 2024 and accused of involvement in a shooting that killed the cousin of rival rapper Quando Rondo.Defence USA lawyer Drew Findling said the recording artist, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, was "thankful" following the verdict.USA  Lil Durk has had seven albums in the US Billboard chart's top five since 2019 and has also collaborated with stars including Drake and J Cole on hit singles.Supporters cheered outside a Los Angeles courthouse after the verdict, which came following three days of jury deliberations.The 33-year-old faced five felony counts, including murder for hire resulting in death and conspiracy. If convicted, he could have faced a life sentence.Although Banks was found not guilty of the charges in the case, he remains in custody and faces a separate trial on 5 October, where he will face racketeering murder and firearms charges."While we are disappointed with the jury's decision regarding Durk Banks, a.k.a. 'Lil Durk,' we look forward to presenting our evidence at his second trial", First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said in a statement.

In the three-week trial, two co-defendants were tried alongside Banks. Deandre "OTF Dede" Wilson and David "Browneyez" Lindsey were convicted of stalking and USA conspiracy to commit stalking, but acquitted of murder-for-hire charges, the BBC's US partner USA CBS News reports.

The trial relied on three co-operating witnesses, Kavon "OTF Vonnie" Grant, Keith "Flacka" Jones and Kacey "OTF Jam" Hester, who reached plea deals and testified against Banks, Wilson and Lindsey.

It stemmed from a fatal shooting in August 2022 at a petrol station in Los Angeles, where a car carrying Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman, was shot at. Bowman was unharmed, but his cousin Saviay'a Robinson, who was also in the car, was killed.Federal prosecutors accused Banks of plotting to kill Bowman, in retaliation for the earlier murder of Chicago OTF rapper King Von, who was signed to OTF. Von was killed in 2020 during an early-morning exchange of gunfire in Atlanta.A friend of Bowman was charged with King Von's murder, but the charges were later dropped. Bowman was not arrested or charged.

Authorities said Banks made it known that he would "pay a bounty" to anyone who killed Bowman. Prosecutors argued that Banks felt pressure on social media to avenge Von's death.Banks founded OTF in 2010. He won the 2024 Grammy Award for Best Melodic Rap Performance for his single "All My Life" featuring J Cole. He has also been nominated for a Grammy three other times.Grammy-winning ​rap artist Lil Durk was acquitted on Friday of all charges in a federal murder-for-hire case ‌accusing him of orchestrating the revenge killing of a man shot dead in a daytime ambush in Los Angeles four years ago.Two co-defendants tried with the recording artist, whose real name is Durk Banks, were acquitted of murder-for-hire-related charges but were found guilty on ​charges of conspiracy to commit stalking, as well as stalking with a dangerous weapon and stalking resulting ​death.Although Banks was found not guilty of all those charges, he remains in custody and ⁠faces a separate trial scheduled for October 5 on murder-related racketeering and weapons offenses, according to a spokesperson for ​the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles.His two co-defendants, Deandre Dontrell Wilson and David Brian Lindsey, face trial on ​the same counts.

According to a 32-page federal indictment filed in the case, Banks is the ringleader of a violent criminal gang consisting of associates from his rap music label, One of the Family, that has engaged in robbery, murder and drug trafficking.

The trial that ​ended on Friday stemmed from a fatal shooting on USA August 2022 at a gasoline station near the Beverly Center ​shopping mall in Los Angeles that prosecutors described as a planned hit.Banks, 33, who won the 2024 Grammy for best melodic rap ‌performance ⁠for his hit single "All My Life," was accused of ordering, financing and masterminding the intended murder of a rival rapper Quando Rondo, born Tyquian Bowman.According to prosecutors, Banks placed a bounty on Bowman's head as revenge for the killing two years earlier of a close friend of Banks, Dayvon "King Von" Bennett, by one of Bowman's associates in an Atlanta ​nightclub.But the squad of killers ​who Banks allegedly sent ⁠to hunt down Bowman ended up killing Bowman's 24-year-old cousin, Saviay'a Robinson, by mistake, in a hail of gunfire.

USA Banks, who was arrested in October 2024 at a Florida airport ​after five other suspects were charged in the case, has pleaded not guilty to ​all charges.Defense lawyers ⁠have asserted that Banks had nothing to do with the plot, maintaining that it was a former personal assistant who ordered the hit to impress his boss, the Los Angeles City News Service reported in its account of the trial.The ⁠ex-assistant and ​two other Banks associates originally indicted with the rapper reached plea ​deals in the case and testified for the prosecution, according to CNS.

USA Banks' acquittal set off a celebration by the rap artist's supporters outside the ​downtown Los Angeles federal courthouse where the trial was held.Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth at $8 million. Most of that wealth comes from his long-running music career, including streaming, album releases, touring and collaborations.His Only the Family (OTF) label and brand have also become an important part of his career and business interests.

Lil Durk, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, began releasing music in Chicago in the early 2010s. His mixtapes Life Ain’t No Joke and Signed to the Streets helped him gain a following before he moved into the mainstream.He signed with Def Jam Recordings and released his debut album, Remember My Name, in 2015. He later put out albums including Lil Durk 2X, The Voice, 7220 and Almost Healed.His commercial success grew through major collaborations. His joint album with Lil Baby, The Voice of the Heroes, reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in 2021. 7220 also topped the chart in 2022.His 2023 song “All My Life,” featuring J. Cole, became another major career highlight. The track won the Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance in 2024.

  • American rapper Lil Durk has been cleared by a federal jury in Los Angeles of involvement in an alleged murder-for-hire plot targeting rival artist Quando Rondo.
  • The Grammy-winning artist was acquitted of conspiracy, murder for hire, and stalking resulting in death following three days of jury deliberations.
  • High-profile figures such as Ye, previously known as Kanye West, and Machine Gun Kelly attended the fortnight-long trial in downtown Los Angeles, while crowds of supporters, content creators and streamers congregated outside the courthouse.
  • The August 2022 shooting at a Los Angeles gas station left Rondo unharmed but resulted in the death of his 24-year-old cousin, Saviay’a Robinson.
  • Co-defendants David Lindsey and Deandre Wilson were cleared of murder for hire, but both were convicted of stalking offences resulting in death.

On Tuesday, the USA government and defense delivered closing arguments in rapper Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire trial, with supporters gathering outside an hour before proceedings resumed to hold “Free Durk” signs as jurors made their way past to hear each side’s final words.

Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald entered the courtroom with two phones, saying he would use them as an “informal chess clock” to keep things on schedule throughout the “tight” day.

The judge then read instructions to the jury on the following counts: conspiracy to commit stalking; stalking Bowman using a dangerous weapon; stalking Robinson resulting in death; conspiracy to use interstate commerce facilities in a murder-for-hire resulting in Robinson’s death; and using interstate commerce facilities in a murder-for-hire resulting in Robinson’s death.

Fitzgerald explained to the jury that each defendant must have knowingly aided in or committed each crime, and that simply being present without knowledge of the conspiracy was not enough. He said that although three witnesses have pleaded guilty, their pleas cannot be used as evidence of guilt against the defendants, who have pleaded not guilty.Fitzgerald reiterated that the government has the burden of proving the counts beyond a reasonable doubt. He also told the jury that anyone involved in a conspiracy that resulted in the death of Saviay’a Robinson — even as a planner — should be considered as guilty as the person who pulled the trigger.Ian Yanniello, representing the government, said Quando Rondo was “vulnerable” when he landed in Los Angeles, which he described as the moment Banks took his shot. Five men, including defendants David Lindsey and Deondre Wilson, flew into Los Angeles “with only the shirts on their back” for “one reason — and that was to get Quando.”Yanniello said the OTF members “went straight to hunting their victims from the second they arrived” and did not stop until Robinson was shot at the gas station across from the Beverly Center. Robinson, he said, had no idea when he woke up that morning that the defendants had already “determined his fate.”The prosecution described the killing as the “culmination of years-long” planning and said Wilson and Lindsey celebrated afterward. A video showing Robinson being pulled from the black Escalade was shown again to the jury as Yanniello pointed to what he described as the consequences of the defendants’ actions.Yanniello described conspiracy as a “criminal agreement” and said Banks took steps to conceal the alleged criminal activity. He pointed to deleted text messages, the five men flying to San Diego and Banks’ 17 different phone numbers as evidence.

Yanniello described Banks as the leader of OTF and its violent members, saying they killed “his biggest opp.”

“Get Back,” Yanniello explained to the jury. “Body for a body. Blood for blood.”

The government described Kacey Hester, also known as OTF Jam, as a “stone cold killer” and said Banks wanted “shooters on speed dial” whom he could “dispatch at a moments’ notice.”

Yanniello said Kavon Grant was involved in the murder because he was Banks’ “right hand man,” but added that Grant had no ability to order the other men around.

USA Yanniello argued that Robinson’s death “does not happen” without Banks, pointing to Banks’ alleged beef with Rondo, his money, the “hot car” and what Yanniello characterized as Banks’ Los Angeles murder.

“So why did they agree to commit the murder?” Yanniello asked. “You heard why. Money,” he told the jury.The government pointed to the following texts from Banks’ phone as evidence throughout its argument:“Don’t book no flights involved wit me”“Jam just ready to snitch blood clear as day”“The guys so behind and wonder why everybody else be up and looking good … I’m not putting a dollar up till mfrs show me its a team thang”Of Lindsey, Yanniello said he was “clearly one of the shooters, wearing identifiable shoes.”Of Wilson, Yanniello said he hired shooters Lindsey and Keith Jones, known as Flacka, with the promise of payment.

“This case is not about rap. It’s not about celebrity. It’s about Saviay’a Robinson,” Yanniello said. “They are guilty on all counts.”

Brian Steel began and ended his argument by thanking the jury. He called Fitzgerald the “giver of law” while telling jurors they were the sole judges of the facts in the case.Steel argued that being a member of OTF did not make Banks responsible for the actions of its other members. The prosecution, he said, must prove that Banks had an agreement with those who USA committed the murder.Steel reminded the jury that the prosecution has the burden of proving Banks’ guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, arguing that any reasonable doubt requires a not-guilty verdict.“You need one. I’m going to talk about many,” Steel began.

Steel then targeted each of the prosecution’s witnesses, focusing particularly on OTF Jam.About Kacey Hester, Steel said, “He has been incarcerated more in his lifetime than he has been out … This man is not human .. That’s who the government wants you to rely on.”Steel pointed out that Hester’s initial interviews were not recorded. He told the jury that fact should give them pause and questioned why the fifth interview was recorded, suggesting it may have been because USA Investigators had already “rehearsed with Hester.”Steel said Hester was never challenged by authorities over discrepancies in his stories and urged jurors not to be USA firmly convinced by his testimony.“How dare they put him in front of you and continue this story. They know it’s a lie,” he said. “There is no corroboration for anything Hester says involving Durk.”Steel then turned to Kavon Grant, also known as Vonni or Cuz.“Grant has resources. Grant has access to all Durk’s resources,” Steel argued.Steel told the jury that Hester, Grant and Jones had a lot to gain from their testimony, but argued that their testimony was only valuable to investigators when it implicated Banks.“Durk Banks is not guilty,” Steel said to the jury. “If you have one reason to doubt that Durk is involved … the verdict is not guilty.”Steel told the jury that Banks was the FBI’s target, arguing that USA investigators had “put a target on a human being. A celebrity human being. That’s why you’re here.”Drew Findling concluded the defense’s closing argument for Banks. While Steel focused on discrediting Hester, Findling focused on what he called the “mastermind” — Grant.Findling argued that the government’s entire case rested on “the belief that Vonni is telling the truth.” He played a voice recording of Grant saying he would have the judge believing he “had no choice” because he was Banks’ assistant.

“It’s time for you to say, ‘He will not manipulate us,’” Findling told the jury, arguing that Grant had “manipulated” investigators and prosecutors.Findling began his closing by telling the jury that “there is no expiration date on grief.” He compared the grief Banks experienced after the murder of King Von to “a toddler run over by a drunk driver.”Findling argued that if a mother experiencing such grief were to say, “I hope that person dies,” it would not be viewed in the same way the prosecution was framing Banks’ grief.“We took a microscope to his pain, to his grief — and yes — to his anger,” Findling said of Banks.

The USA Government’s Rebuttal

Michael Morse told the jury three words he believed captured Banks’ mindset from the moment King Von was murdered: “Hunt. Catch. Kill.”In their arguments, the defense predicted Morse would “rap” at the jury, which he indeed did.“Grab a gun if you ain’t with it, put up money for a gun / Put up money for a hot car, put up money for a bond,” Morse repeated from Banks’ Pissed Me Off song, pointing out to the jury that they had heard testimony about hot cars and bonds.Findling played a recording of an LAPD investigator questioning Keith Jones: “I’m not talking about a normal person. I’m talking about a gangster with a lot of money.”Findling said the exchange demonstrated LAPD bias. He called the investigators “twisted agents with a horrible thought process” who “twisted” Banks’ words. “You have to have greater expectations for law enforcement,” he told the jury.The defense argued that Banks was someone who stood by those he grew up with in Chicago and that this should be commended rather than condemned.“He is a lyricist. He is blessed from above,” Findling said. “He’s the Voice. The Voice that has the ability to express what other people think.”

“It is an honor to be the Voice for the Voice. Truly,” Findling said, ending the defense’s closing arguments.

Morse told the jury that the defense’s argument rested on tearing down the credibility of the USA government’s witnesses, but alleged that the defense never responded to the facts presented by the government. Those facts, he said, included flights booked by Jason Smith, Grant going to and from Banks’ home during the alleged murder plot and texts in which Banks was allegedly discussing “revenge.”“I could have put up more on the screen,” Morse said of the USA government’s evidence, adding that the evidence presented had “nothing to do with cooperators.”Morse pointed to a group chat containing messages sent from a number associated with Banks as the most “damaging” evidence to the defense’s case. In the messages, Banks discusses Hester being ready to “snitch” and texts the group, “As long as we don’t break they can tell them whatever.”

“They cannot call it a song … they cannot blame the LAPD,” Morse said. “They can only live with his words.”In the final words of his argument, Morse told the jury that every element of the alleged plot leads back to Banks, who he said had the authority to give orders to OTF members.He then pointed to a DJ Akademiks interview in which Banks responds to comments about “Slide for Von” following Robinson’s death. Banks replies, “We different in the Raq,” which Morse alleged was an admission.The case of the United States of America v. Durk Banks is now in the hands of the jury, which will begin deliberations Wednesday morning. Fitzgerald commended both the prosecution and defense for their “extraordinary display of lawyering,” saying they should be proud.

Posted on 2026/09/12 04:56 PM