<h2 style="text-align: center;">BREAKING: Not Guilty — Lil Durk Walks Free in Federal Murder-For-Hire Trial</h2>
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<p><strong>LOS ANGELES —</strong> Grammy-winning Chicago rapper <strong>Lil Durk</strong>, born Durk Devontay Banks, has been <strong>acquitted of all charges</strong> in his closely watched federal murder-for-hire trial.</p>
<p>On Friday, <strong>September 11, 2026</strong>, 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.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">What He Was Facing</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Prosecutors alleged Durk directed hitmen to target Quando Rondo in August 2022, an ambush that killed Rondo&#8217;s cousin Saviay&#8217;a Robinson, known as Lul Pab. Durk&#8217;s defense successfully argued he had no direct link to the shooters.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Co-Defendants Split Verdict</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">From Arrest to Acquittal</h3>
<p>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.</p>
<blockquote><p>&#8220;Lil Durk is walking away from his closely watched federal murder-for-hire trial without a conviction&#8221; — The Source, Sept 11.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Ground Up Radio Take:</strong> Whether you bang OTF or not, this verdict matters for every independent artist watching how feds build conspiracy cases around crews. Acquittal doesn&#8217;t erase the loss of Lul Pab, but it resets Durk&#8217;s freedom and career clock. Expect new music and OTF business moves within 48 hours.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>Story developing. Follow Ground Up Radio for court docs and family reactions.</em></p>

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