Lil Durk found not guilty in federal murder-for-hire case in Los Angeles
The rapper was accused of orchestrating an attack on a longtime rival in 2022. He was facing a maximum sentence of life in prison.
A federal grand jury in Los Angeles found Chicago rapper Lil Durk not guilty of all charges related to an alleged murder-for-hire plot of rival Quando Rondo in 2022.
The jury deliberated for two days before returning its verdict.
The Grammy Award-winning rapper faced five different charges: of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire; use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death; conspiracy to commit interstate stalking; interstate stalking involving a dangerous weapon; and interstate stalking resulting in death. Had he been convicted, he faced a possible life sentence.
Durk’s co-defendants in the case, Deandre Wilson and David Lindsey, were found guilty of stalking and stalking conspiracy but found not guilty of murder-for-hire.
Prosecutors and the defense gave closing arguments on Tuesday, with the government arguing that Durk, real name Durk Banks, had “his shooters on speed dial” when he allegedly set out the murder-for-hire plot that left rapper Quando Rondo’s cousin dead in Los Angeles. Durk’s defense, led by Drew Findling and Brian Steel, argued that the government’s case was “replete with reasonable doubt” and was built on the cooperation of various individuals seeking to avoid life sentences.
According to prosecutors, Durk wanted “revenge” for the shooting death of his close associate, King Von, in Atlanta in 2020.
“No one is saying he was the one on the ground with a gun in his hand in Los Angeles, but you know this story doesn’t happen without him, and it doesn’t make sense without his leadership,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Yanniello said, later arguing that the case was not about rap music, but the code of “get back” for a fallen friend.
“Defendant Banks used his money, his power, and his influence to try to kill his biggest opp, Quando Rondo,” Yanniello said.
Prosecutors alleged that members of Durk’s “Only The Family” or “OTF” imprint went from Chicago to Los Angeles in August 2022, following Quando Rondo around before opening fire on a vehicle he was in at a gas station near the Beverly Center Mall on August 19, 2022. Rondo, real name Tyquian Bowman, reportedly had a bounty on his head after being blamed for the death of King Von, real name Dayvon Bennett. Bowman survived the shooting, but his cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, did not.
Three of the government’s cooperating witnesses in the case all had ties to Durk and his “Only The Family” imprint. Kasey “OTF Jam” Hester, Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant, and Keith Jones all pleaded guilty to various crimes related to the incident, including murder-for-hire. During the trial, each testified that Durk was involved with the attack and that the individuals who shot and killed Robinson expected payment.
According to Durk’s defense team, each of the men testified because they were looking at “life” sentences and had they not cooperated with the government, they were likely to “die in custody.”
“You must understand that these are different witnesses. They are snitches, cooperators, rats,” Steel said of Hester, Grant andJones. “The only way they benefit is if they include Durk.”
Prosecutors alleged Durk funded the attack, with flights and hotel stays charged to his credit card. In evidence shared during the trial, Yanniello revealed text messages from Durk that stated, “Don’t book no flights under no names involved wit me.” The defense countered, saying the texts were related to a wedding in Mexico that Durk decided not to attend at the last minute.
Durk is still facing a second trial on racketeering charges.