Lil Durk is seeking to have his federal murder-for-hire case dismissed, arguing that the charges against him fail to provide sufficient details necessary for a fair defense.
The Chicago rapper is accused of orchestrating a plot to kill fellow rapper Quando Rondo in retaliation for the 2020 death of his close friend King Von.
Federal authorities allege that Durk used his Only The Family collective to recruit co-conspirators and direct them to Los Angeles in August 2022 to carry out the attack.
The attempted shooting occurred in broad daylight at a gas station, where Rondo escaped unharmed, but his cousin Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson was tragically killed.
Prosecutors claim Durk coordinated vehicles, weapons, and ski masks to facilitate the ambush and offered cash or lucrative music deals to anyone willing to carry out the plan.
Durk’s defense team, which includes attorneys Drew Findling, Marissa Goldberg, Jonathan Brayman, and Christy O’Connor, contends that the indictment is vague and does not provide the operative facts necessary to prepare a proper defense.
Findling said, “While the Indictment alleges that the co-conspirators carried out various acts ‘at the direction of’ Mr. Banks—flying to Los Angeles; tracking, stalking, and attempting to kill [Quando Rondo] by gunfire; and procuring the firearms and equipment used to do so—it fails to give any specifics. When, where, how, and to whom did Mr. Banks give these alleged directions? To ensure the basic fairness of this trial, the defense is entitled to know.”
The defense also points out that the government has not identified which individuals received Durk’s messages, what the alleged code words were, or when and where the offers were made. They argue that this lack of clarity undermines Durk’s constitutional rights and could allow for a conviction based on vague or shifting allegations.
Findling added, “What the Indictment fails to tell us are the very things the defense is entitled to know: the ‘operative facts’ underlying the government’s theories of Mr. Banks’ guilt. There is no allegation here that Mr. Banks physically participated in the stalking and shooting at issue.”
In response, the defense has filed a motion to either dismiss the charges entirely or compel the government to provide a detailed bill of particulars outlining the alleged conduct.
Durk remains in federal custody following his arrest near Miami International Airport on October 17, 2024.
A hearing regarding the motion is scheduled for 10 A.M. on November 18, 2025, before U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald in Los Angeles. The outcome of this hearing could significantly affect the progression of this highly publicized case and the rapper’s legal future.
