Federal prosecutors have expanded their case against rapper Lil Durk by adding a racketeering-related charge just weeks before he is due to stand trial, a move his legal team has dismissed as a sign that authorities are struggling to secure a conviction.
The Chicago artist, whose legal name is Durk Banks, is accused of operating his Only the Family (OTF) music collective as a criminal enterprise that allegedly carried out violent acts at his direction.
The new allegation was included in a superseding indictment filed on June 4 under the federal Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering Activity (VICAR) statute.
According to prosecutors, Banks founded OTF around 2010 as a music label promoting artists from Chicago.
Authorities now claim a faction within the organization evolved into what they describe as the “Banks Gang Enterprise,” allegedly engaging in acts of violence, including murder and attempted murder.
The latest charge comes as Durk prepares for an August 25, 2026 trial linked to allegations that he ordered a retaliatory attack on rapper Quando Rondo following the 2020 killing of his close associate and fellow rapper King Von.
Prosecutors allege that members of OTF were directed to target Rondo in Los Angeles in 2022. While Rondo survived the shooting, another man, known as Lul Pab, was killed. Durk has consistently denied any involvement.
The revised indictment also references other incidents prosecutors say demonstrate a pattern of criminal activity. These include an alleged attempted murder in Atlanta in 2019 and claims that Durk paid $1 million for the killing of a rival gang member in Chicago in 2022.
Federal authorities contend that Durk rewarded individuals who carried out violent acts on behalf of the organization and have charged him with conspiracy, murder-for-hire and firearms-related offences tied to the case.
Durk’s attorneys strongly rejected the government’s latest move, arguing that prosecutors are repackaging old accusations because their original case is weak.
“This indictment is lipstick on a pig,” attorneys Drew Findling, Marissa Goldberg, Brian Steel and Christy O’Connor said in a statement.
“For nearly two years now, federal prosecutors have desperately tried to fend off challenges to a very weak case. Now, just two months before trial — a trial that Durk Banks has demanded at every turn — they pull this pathetic pivot, recycling old accusations into a scrambling prosecutor’s back-up plan.”
The lawyers insisted that the new filing does not strengthen the government’s position and reiterated their client’s innocence.
“This is not a sign of strength. It’s an acknowledgment of weakness. The fact remains: Durk Banks is innocent, no matter how many indictments they want to throw at him.”
The defense team has repeatedly challenged the prosecution’s tactics, including efforts to use rap lyrics and music videos as evidence in court.
The new indictment cites an unreleased video for Durk’s 2020 song “Redman,” alleging it depicts scenes resembling the pursuit and shooting of someone who looks similar to Quando Rondo. Prosecutors also point to social media activity, text messages and lyrics that they claim celebrate acts of violence allegedly linked to the organization.
Despite the expanded charges, Durk’s lawyers maintain that the case is built on flawed allegations and say they are prepared to challenge the government’s evidence when the trial begins later this summer.
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