Rapper Lil Durk charged for role in murder-for-hire scheme in 2022

Lil Durk, the Grammy-winning rapper, was taken into custody in Florida on federal charges. He is accused of funding an attempted revenge killing of fellow rapper Quando Rondo at a gas station in Los Angeles in 2022, which tragically led to the death of Rondo's cousin.

Durk, 32, faces charges for allegedly plotting a murder-for-hire related to the death of Saviay’a Robinson, 24, who was shot on August 19, 2022, as stated in an FBI affidavit made public on Friday.

According to recently filed court documents, five additional members of Durk's rap group from Chicago, Only the Family (OTF), have been taken into custody, and it seems that at least two more arrests might be on the horizon.

According to the FBI, Durk was taken into custody on Thursday night in South Florida while he was trying to leave the country.

The artist known as Durk Banks, better known as a rapper, received a Grammy award this year for the best melodic rap performance for his track "All My Life," which includes J Cole. Additionally, he has received three nominations in the past and performed alongside Drake on the song "Laugh Now Cry Later."

According to her sworn statement, FBI agent Sarah Corcoran reported that members of OTF participated in acts of violence, such as murder and assault, as directed by Banks to uphold their position within the organization.

Durk's team did not reply right away to emails sent on Friday requesting a comment.

Based on the affidavit from Corcoran and various federal court documents, the incident is linked to the fatal shooting of OTF rapper King Von, who was 26 years old, at an Atlanta nightclub in November 2020. This occurred after a confrontation between Von and Rondo. According to reports, a friend of Rondo's drew a weapon and fired multiple shots at Von, resulting in his death. King Von, whose real name was Dayvon Bennett, was known for his popular tracks, "Crazy Story" and "Took Her To The O."

Officials report that Durk announced he would offer a reward to anyone who took Rondo's life, with Rondo's real name being Tyquian Bowman.

Nearly two years later, a plan for a murder swiftly took shape, according to Corcoran.

On August 19, 2022, friends of Durk discovered that Rondo was at a hotel in Los Angeles. On that same day, Deandre Wilson, Keith Jones, David Lindsey, Asa Houston, and another unidentified individual traveled from Chicago to San Diego and then drove to Los Angeles, using money supplied by Durk, according to Corcoran.

On that day, Durk reportedly sent a message to someone who was organizing the flights, saying, “Don’t book any flights using any names connected to me.” Corcoran mentioned that there is video footage showing Durk was at a house in the San Fernando Valley on that day.

Upon their arrival in Los Angeles, the members of OTF encountered Kayon Grant, who had arrived via private jet. Grant, a prominent associate of OTF, arranged hotel accommodations for the men, bought them four ski masks, and secured two upscale sedans, according to court documents. It is claimed that Grant provided Jones, Lindsey, and a third individual, whose name has not been revealed, with firearms, one of which had been modified to function as a fully automatic weapon.

The following day, it was reported that the group tracked Rondo and Robinson as they traveled in a Cadillac Escalade. Their destinations included a marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles, a clothing store in West Hollywood, and a gas station located right across from the Beverly Center.

Houston parked his car behind the station, allowing Jones, Lindsey, and the unidentified defendant to set a trap for Rondo. They exited the vehicle and began shooting, resulting in the death of Robinson, who was outside the Escalade, but they missed Rondo, as reported in the indictment and various news articles covering the incident.

The suspects then headed to an In-N-Out burger joint where they talked about how to settle the payment with Grant, before flying back to Chicago from San Diego, according to Corcoran and other records. It is alleged that Wilson later gave Jones and Lindsey an unspecified amount of money.

On Thursday in Chicago, Grant, Jones, Lindsey, Wilson, and Houston were taken into custody on charges related to a conspiracy for murder-for-hire. At this time, there is no information available regarding legal representation for these individuals in court records.

Following their arrests, Corcoran reported that Durk reserved two flights from airports in South Florida: one heading to Dubai and the other to Switzerland. He subsequently arranged a private flight to Italy but was apprehended in Miami before he could get on that plane.

Durk and the other individuals facing charges are currently in custody while they await their relocation to Los Angeles.