Lil Durk will stand trial alongside three co-defendants on outstanding federal racketeering-related charges, despite being cleared in September of allegations that he organised a murder-for-hire plot targeting rival rapper Quando Rondo.
The 33-year-old Grammy-winning rapper, whose legal name is Durk Banks, is scheduled to face trial with Asa “Boogie” Houston, Deandre “OTF Dede” Wilson and David “Browneyez” Lindsey.
US District Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald has moved the trial from 5 October 2026 to 30 August 2027, giving lawyers more time to prepare for what the court described as an unusually complex case involving several defendants and extensive evidence.
“Due to the nature of the prosecution and the number of defendants, including the charges in the indictment and the voluminous discovery, this case is so unusual and so complex that it is unreasonable to expect adequate preparation for pretrial proceedings or for the trial itself within the Speedy Trial Act time limits,” the ruling reportedly stated.
Durk agreed to waive his right to a speedy trial, while prosecutors did not oppose the postponement.
What are the outstanding charges?
The second trial centres on allegations under the Violent Crimes in Aid of Racketeering statute, commonly known as VICAR, as well as related firearms charges.
Federal prosecutors allege that Durk’s Only the Family music collective also operated as a criminal enterprise and that violence was carried out to protect or advance the organisation’s interests.
The remaining case is separate from the murder-for-hire charges on which Durk was recently acquitted. All four defendants are presumed innocent of the unresolved allegations unless proven guilty.
Durk cleared in murder-for-hire trial
On 11 September, a federal jury found Durk not guilty of all charges arising from an August 2022 shooting near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles.
Prosecutors had alleged that Durk financed a plot to kill rapper Quando Rondo in retaliation for the 2020 killing of his close friend and fellow rapper King Von.
Rondo survived the attack, but his cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, was killed.
The jury acquitted Durk of conspiracy, murder-for-hire and stalking-related charges. Wilson and Lindsey were also cleared of the murder-for-hire accusations but convicted of three stalking-related offences. Both men are challenging those convictions. apnews.com
Houston previously had the murder-for-hire proceedings against him separated and still awaits trial in that portion of the case.
Bond hearing offers possible route out of jail
Durk has remained in federal custody since his October 2024 arrest, despite his acquittal in the first trial.
His lawyers are expected to ask Judge Fitzgerald to release him pending trial during a bond-review hearing scheduled for 4 November at 2.30pm. The court has ordered the US Probation and Pretrial Services Office to provide an updated bail report. AllHipHop
Online speculation that Durk is preparing to accept a plea agreement remains unsubstantiated. No publicly reported court filing indicates that a deal has been reached or is being negotiated.
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