On Friday, September 11, 2026, a federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California delivered a full acquittal for Chicago rapper Lil Durk, clearing the 33-year-old artist of all five criminal counts he faced, including conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking resulting in death, use of interstate facilities in murder-for-hire resulting in death, and firearms offenses.
The verdict concluded a closely watched two-week trial presided over by U.S. District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald. Jurors deliberated for three days, during which they submitted formal notes requesting digital copies of admitted trial exhibits and asking for clarification on the statutory definition of “intent” alongside the elements of “conspiracy,” “conspirator,” and “overt act.” Judge Fitzgerald declined to provide supplemental definitions, directing the panel back to the standard jury instructions.
While Banks—whose legal name is Durk Devontay Banks—was cleared on every count, co-defendants Deandre “OTF DeDe” Wilson and David “Browneyez” Lindsey received split verdicts. The jury acquitted both men of murder-for-hire charges but convicted them of conspiracy to commit stalking, stalking using a dangerous weapon, and stalking resulting in death. That offense carries a statutory maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
Federal prosecutors had argued that Banks orchestrated and financed an August 19, 2022 shooting near the Beverly Center in West Hollywood. According to the government, the gunfire was an attempted hit supported by an open bounty targeting rapper Tyquian Bowman, known as Quando Rondo, in retaliation for the 2020 killing of King Von. Bowman survived the ambush, but the attack fatally struck his cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson.
The prosecution’s case rested heavily on testimony from cooperating Only The Family (OTF) affiliates Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant, Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester, and Keith “Flacka” Jones. Defense attorneys Drew Findling and Brian Steel attacked their credibility on cross-examination, detailing the significant sentencing incentives offered under their plea deals. The defense framed Grant as an independent operator driven by personal vengeance for his cousin, King Von, rather than someone acting on orders from Banks.
Prosecutors also pointed to flight bookings made on Banks’ credit card by his road manager, as well as post-shooting text messages. However, the defense countered by establishing that the card was routinely utilized for general entourage travel expenses, highlighting that investigators possessed no banking records or financial paper trails proving bounty disbursements or an underlying murder-for-hire agreement.
The courtroom also served as a legal battleground over the use of creative expression as prosecutorial evidence. Judge Fitzgerald strictly limited the introduction of Banks’ rap lyrics and music videos under Federal Rule of Evidence 404(b). The court excluded lines from “Hanging with Wolves” and permitted only four truncated excerpts and static screenshots. Furthermore, defense affidavit evidence confirmed that lyrics from the track “Wonderful Wayne and Jackie Boy” had been recorded months before Robinson’s death.
The proceedings drew substantial interest throughout the two weeks, with figures such as Ye and Machine Gun Kelly attending court alongside Banks’ family members, while crowds of supporters gathered outside the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building. Following the verdict, Findling delivered an address asserting that Banks had been wrongfully targeted by the government, drawing public commendation from music industry peers, including 50 Cent.
Despite the complete acquittal, Banks was not released from federal custody. The four-time Grammy nominee and 2024 Grammy winner for “All My Life” remains detained without bond following his October 25, 2024 arrest near Miami International Airport due to a separate, pending federal racketeering indictment. He is scheduled to face a second severed trial on October 5, 2026, addressing VICAR racketeering, murder in aid of racketeering, and firearms charges connected to the alleged “Banks Gang Enterprise” and the January 2022 killing of rival Gangster Disciples faction leader Stephon Mack.
Additionally, Banks still faces legal exposure in civil court. Following Friday’s criminal verdict, representatives and family members of Saviay’a Robinson reaffirmed that they are moving forward with an active wrongful death and negligence lawsuit against Banks and OTF entities in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois.