Los Angeles – A federal grand jury in Los Angeles has leveled new charges against Chicago rapper Lil Durk, real name Durk Banks, in an alleged murder-for-hire scheme that occurred last year but tragically misfired, leading to the death of a non-targeted individual.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California announced the superseding indictment, which accuses Banks of conspiracy, use of interstate facilities in commission of murder-for-hire resulting in death, and several firearms-related offenses. These charges come under heightened scrutiny following Banks’ recent apprehension while allegedly attempting a hasty departure from the U.S.
It is reported that the 32-year-old artist was attempting to board a private jet bound for Italy when captured and detained last month. Currently held without bond in a Miami federal facility, Banks awaits transfer to Los Angeles where he will face the charges; court dates have yet to be scheduled.
In a broader context, this indictment is part of a series of legal actions aiming to untangle a cross-country vendetta linked to the 2020 murder of fellow Chicago rapper King Von, born Dayvon Bennett, who was fatally shot in Atlanta. Alongside Banks, five individuals were charged last month in connected cases, including Kavon London Grant, Deandre Dontrell Wilson, Keith Jones, David Brian Lindsey, and Asa Houston, all awaiting arraignment.
The indictment states that Banks is alleged to have offered financial incentives and music career opportunities in exchange for the assassination of Quando Rondo, a rapper from Georgia whose legal name is Tyquian Terrel Bowman.
The charges detail an August 2022 incident where gunmen targeted Bowman and his entourage in West Hollywood. Although Bowman and his sister escaped harm, his cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, 24, was fatally struck by gunfire while riding in Bowman’s black Cadillac Escalade.
According to prosecutors, after identifying Bowman in Los Angeles, accomplice Grant secured weapons and vehicles for the attack, facilitating the tragic shooting near a gas station that resulted in Robinson’s death.
Banks, who founded the music label OTF over a decade ago amid the surge of Chicago’s drill rap scene, has seen his artistic influence entangled with allegations of criminal undertakings. This includes a recent lawsuit filed by the mother of slain rapper FBG Duck, which drags OTF and King Von into claims related to her son’s death, suggesting a pattern of violent disputes within the music scene.
The superseding indictment outlines that on the day of the planned hit, group members meticulously tracked Bowman, transitioning from a hotel to a marijuana dispensary and a clothing store before making the fatal stop at the gas station.
As this complex case unfolds, it offers a glimpse into the intersections of music, fame, and alleged criminal activities, posing questions about the impacts on the communities it touches.
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