A federal jury has discovered Lil Durk not responsible of plotting to kill Georgia rapper Quando Rondo. Durk has been in federal custody since 2024, when he was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, conspiracy to commit stalking, and stalking leading to dying.
Prosecutors had argued the Grammy winner labored with a cohort of 5 males tied to his Solely the Household (OTF) collective to orchestrate successful on Quando Rondo, born Tyquian Bowman, as revenge for the 2020 homicide of Durk’s good friend King Von. Timothy “Lul Timm” Leeks, who prosecutors mentioned was “an affiliate” of Bowman’s, was later charged with killing Von. These fees had been ultimately dropped.
The federal authorities’s case was largely constructed on the testimony of Durk’s associates, who had been initially charged as co-defendants earlier than pleading responsible. Prosecutors sought to make use of Durk’s lyrics as proof within the case, a controversial tactic many artists and First Modification advocates have criticized; Decide Michael W. Fitzgerald ultimately dominated to confess some lyrics referencing Durk’s frame of mind following the dying of Von.
Kavon Grant, aka OTF Vonnie, alleged Durk promised money for Bowman’s homicide, whereas Durk’s protection staff (together with Brian Metal, who represented Younger Thug throughout his YSL trial) argued Grant was really the one behind the taking pictures and that the federal government’s case was constructed on cooperators determined to keep away from life sentences. Kacey Hester, aka OTF Jam, mentioned he was amongst those that trailed Bowman earlier than ambushing him at a fuel station, the place they as a substitute shot and killed Bowman’s cousin Saviay’a Tilal “Lul Pab” Robinson. “It’s Durk’s fault,” Hester testified. “Durk put us within the scenario.” Durk had persistently denied the costs.
Durk will stay in custody till a further trial on racketeering fees that had been severed from the primary case. In an announcement, first assistant U.S. Lawyer Invoice Essayli mentioned that “whereas we’re disenchanted with the jury’s choice, we look ahead to presenting our proof at his second trial, scheduled for October 5.”
