A federal jury in Los Angeles is set to begin deliberations Wednesday, September 9, in the murder-for-hire trial of Chicago rapper Lil Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks.
Prosecutors say Banks financed and directed a 2022 plot to kill Georgia rapper Tyquian Bowman, known as Quando Rondo, after the 2020 death of Banks’ friend and collaborator Dayvon “King Von” Bennett. Bowman survived the Los Angeles attack, but his cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, was killed, according to reporting on the trial.
Banks, 33, has pleaded not guilty. He is being tried alongside Deandre Dontrell Wilson and David Brian Lindsey on five federal counts involving conspiracy, interstate stalking and murder-for-hire. If convicted as charged, Banks could face up to life in federal prison.
Prosecutors Say Banks Used Money and Influence to Drive the Plot
During closing arguments on September 8, Assistant U.S. Attorney Ian Yanniello told jurors that Banks used his money, power and influence to orchestrate an attack on Bowman.
Prosecutors presented surveillance images, text messages, travel records and testimony from cooperating witnesses to argue that members of Banks’ Only The Family, or OTF, circle traveled from Chicago to California and tracked Bowman before the August 19, 2022 shooting near the Beverly Center.
Federal prosecutors have alleged that the attackers fired at least 18 rounds at Bowman’s vehicle. Robinson, who was traveling with Bowman, was killed. The Justice Department indictment said multiple firearms, including a machine gun, were used in the attack.
The government also highlighted an August 18, 2022 message attributed to Banks that said, “Don’t book no flights under no names involved wit me.” Prosecutors argued the message showed an effort to conceal the travel arrangements. Banks’ lawyers said the text concerned plans for a friend’s wedding in Mexico, rather than the shooting.
Three cooperating witnesses, Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester, Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant and Keith Jones, admitted roles in the attack and testified for the government. Jones testified that he was told Banks had offered $1 million for Bowman’s killing. The three witnesses also testified that Banks was not physically involved in the shooting and that the alleged bounty was never paid.
Defense Attacks Witness Credibility and Government Theory
Defense lawyers Brian Steel and Drew Findling argued that prosecutors had failed to establish that Banks knowingly agreed to have Bowman killed. Their closing arguments focused heavily on the credibility and incentives of the cooperating witnesses, who had pleaded guilty before testifying for the government.
The defense placed particular emphasis on Grant, Banks’ former personal assistant, arguing that Grant organized the attack independently and had access to Banks’ credit cards and other resources. Banks’ lawyers called nine witnesses before both sides rested on September 3, including witnesses who disputed parts of the cooperators’ accounts.
Banks did not testify. Wilson and Lindsey also declined to take the stand. All three have pleaded not guilty, according to Los Angeles trial coverage.
Jury Deliberations Are Scheduled for September 9
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Closing arguments concluded Tuesday afternoon. U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald sent jurors home and ordered them to return Wednesday morning to select a foreperson and begin deliberating.
The Central District of California’s official calendar lists United States v. Grant, case number CR 24-621(D)-MWF, for “Jury Trial – Day 14” on September 9. As of the latest verified reporting, no verdict has been returned.
The five charges being considered include conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking Bowman using a dangerous weapon, stalking Robinson resulting in death, conspiracy involving interstate facilities in a murder-for-hire resulting in death, and use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death.
Background: King Von’s Death and the 2022 Shooting
@rs_clips65 Antwort auf @user3929843693269 This is where King von d*ed! #rappers #housetour #house #rap #fyp #kingvon #von #oblock ♬ Took Her To The O – King Von
The government’s alleged motive traces back to November 6, 2020, when King Von was shot and killed in Atlanta after a confrontation involving people associated with Quando Rondo.
Prosecutors allege Banks subsequently placed a bounty on Bowman and financed efforts to target him. Those allegations remain disputed, and Banks is presumed innocent unless convicted.
Banks was arrested in October 2024, and prosecutors later expanded the case through superseding indictments. Racketeering-related allegations added in 2026 were severed from the current proceeding by Judge Fitzgerald, meaning jurors in the Los Angeles murder-for-hire trial did not hear evidence on that separate charge.
The jury must now decide whether the government proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Banks knowingly joined and helped finance the alleged plot. The government points to witness testimony, communications and financial links. The defense says those connections do not establish that Banks ordered or agreed to a killing.
