Not guilty on all counts

A Los Angeles federal jury acquitted Durk Banks on Friday, Sept. 11, of murder-for-hire, stalking and conspiracy. The charges carried a possible life sentence.

“Durk is not guilty of all charges.”

Three days of deliberation

Jurors weighed a two-week trial before clearing Durk. Co-defendants David Lindsey and Deandre Wilson were convicted of stalking and conspiracy but also beat the murder-for-hire count.

He is still locked up

A racketeering charge accusing Durk of running his OTF label as a violent gang is still pending. Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald cut it from this trial and criticized prosecutors for adding it late.

“The shackles must come off, and he must walk free.”

What the feds alleged

Prosecutors said Durk sent OTF shooters from Chicago to Los Angeles in 2022 to kill Quando Rondo, payback for the 2020 murder of King Von.

The wrong man died

Rondo was shot at a Los Angeles gas station and survived. His cousin Saviay'a Robinson, known as Lul Pab, was killed in the crossfire.

A case built on cooperators

Three alleged participants pled guilty and testified for the government, saying Durk offered cash rewards for the attack. No payment was ever completed.

The defense flipped the script

Lawyers argued personal assistant Kavon Grant, who had Durk's credit cards, was the real mastermind, and that cooperators handed over a "big fish" to shave their own sentences.

“time to shine”

Rap lyrics on trial

Prosecutors played "Ahhh Ha" and "Who Want Smoke??" as evidence of the plot. The defense called it commercial art, not confession. Many states ban the tactic; federal courts still allow it.

“They droppin' locations, I'm gettin' it done”