BREAKING: Lil Durk Acquitted on All Counts in Federal Trial
Written by QueFourFive on September 12, 2026
BREAKING: Not Guilty — Lil Durk Walks Free in Federal Murder-For-Hire Trial
LOS ANGELES — Grammy-winning Chicago rapper Lil Durk, born Durk Devontay Banks, has been acquitted of all charges in his closely watched federal murder-for-hire trial.
On Friday, September 11, 2026, after three days of deliberation, a Los Angeles federal jury returned a not guilty verdict at 8 p.m., finding the 33-year-old not guilty on all counts he faced in connection with a 2022 shooting near the Beverly Center. A jury acquitted Banks of all charges on September 11, 2026.
What He Was Facing
Banks was charged with one count of conspiracy, one count of use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, and one count of using, carrying, and discharging firearms and a machine gun and possession of such firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death. In October 2024, Banks was arrested by federal authorities on a conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire charge against rapper Quando Rondo.
Prosecutors alleged Durk directed hitmen to target Quando Rondo in August 2022, an ambush that killed Rondo’s cousin Saviay’a Robinson, known as Lul Pab. Durk’s defense successfully argued he had no direct link to the shooters.
Co-Defendants Split Verdict
While Durk was acquitted on all counts, co-defendants Deandre Dontrell Wilson (OTF Dede) and David Brian Lindsey (Browneyez) were convicted of the stalking and stalking conspiracy counts, but found not guilty of murder-for-hire. Both men were found not guilty of murder for hire, with convictions on stalking.
From Arrest to Acquittal
Durk was arrested in October 2024 and held pending trial. His team filed a motion to sever the charges, moving VICAR charges to a separate trial. He maintained not guilty throughout. The case was seen as a test of how federal prosecutors use rap lyrics and OTF affiliations as evidence — similar to recent RICO cases involving Young Thug and Drakeo the Ruler, who was acquitted.
“Lil Durk is walking away from his closely watched federal murder-for-hire trial without a conviction” — The Source, Sept 11.
Ground Up Radio Take: Whether you bang OTF or not, this verdict matters for every independent artist watching how feds build conspiracy cases around crews. Acquittal doesn’t erase the loss of Lul Pab, but it resets Durk’s freedom and career clock. Expect new music and OTF business moves within 48 hours.
Story developing. Follow Ground Up Radio for court docs and family reactions.
