American rapper Lil Durk has gone on trial in a high-profile federal murder-for-hire case nearly two years after his arrest.
Jury selection began on August 20, 2026, in a Los Angeles federal court, with prosecutors alleging that the Chicago rapper, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, orchestrated a plot to kill rival rapper Quando Rondo.
The case stems from a 2022 shooting in Los Angeles. Prosecutors allege that several men associated with Durk’s Only the Family (OTF) collective travelled from Chicago to California as part of the alleged plot.
The intended target, Quando Rondo, survived, but his cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, was killed in the shooting.
Federal prosecutors accuse Durk of using interstate facilities to facilitate a murder-for-hire scheme resulting in death, as well as firearms-related offenses.
The case also includes stalking-related allegations. Durk has pleaded not guilty and has denied the allegations against him.
Durk was arrested in Florida in October 2024 and has remained in federal custody since then. He has spent roughly 665 days behind bars while awaiting trial, following several delays that pushed the proceedings back from their original schedule.
The prosecution is expected to present evidence that it says links Durk to the alleged plot, while his defence will challenge the government's interpretation of the evidence and maintain his innocence.
The trial could have major consequences for the Grammy-winning rapper. If convicted on the federal charges, Durk faces the possibility of life imprisonment without parole, according to reports surrounding the case.
For now, however, Durk remains presumed innocent unless and until prosecutors prove the charges against him beyond a reasonable doubt.
