Rapper Lil Durk’s Federal Murder-for-Hire Trial Set for 21st April
Spring Courtroom Showdown: Lil Durk’s Federal Murder-for-Hire Trial Set for 21st April
The legal calendar for one of the most significant federal trials in modern hip-hop history has finally been solidified. Durk Banks, known globally as Lil Durk, is now officially scheduled to stand trial on 21st April 2026, in a Los Angeles federal courtroom.
The date was set following a status hearing on Wednesday, where U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald granted a request from several of Banks’ co-defendants to delay the proceedings by three months. The trial was originally slated to begin on 20th January, however the sheer volume of "discovery" materials totaling hundreds of gigabytes of digital evidence forced it to be postponed.
A Split in the Defense
While the delay was granted to allow co-defendants more time to review the government’s evidence, Lil Durk himself did not join the request. His lead attorney, Drew Findling, emphasised that the Chicago rapper was ready to proceed immediately to prove his innocence.
“We would have been ready to try the case in two weeks,” Findling told reporters outside the courthouse. “But it is a complex case. These are the stepping stones toward a trial.”
The "Only The Family" Allegations
The 33-year-old Grammy winner stands as the lead defendant in a four-count superseding indictment. Prosecutors allege that Banks orchestrated a "bounty" on rival rapper Quando Rondo as retaliation for the 2020 killing of King Von.
The government’s case centers on an August 2022 ambush at a West Hollywood gas station, where gunmen allegedly opened fire on Quando Rondo’s vehicle, killing his cousin, Saviay’a Robinson. Banks is charged with:
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Conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire
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Use of interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death
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Use of firearms, including a machine gun, in a crime of violence
Life Behind Bars: The Solitary Struggle
While he awaits his day in court, Banks remains in federal custody, where his defense team is battling more than just the indictment. His attorneys recently filed a motion challenging his continued solitary confinement at a federal detention center.
Banks has reportedly been held in isolation for over four months following an incident involving an unauthorized Apple Watch. His lawyers argue the prolonged isolation is "deleterious" to his mental health and violates his constitutional rights, noting he is restricted to a single phone call per month. A specific status hearing regarding his detention conditions is scheduled for 9th February.
The Road Ahead
With five other "Only The Family" (OTF) affiliates, including Kavon Grant and Deandre Wilson—set to stand trial alongside him, the 21st April date marks the beginning of what is expected to be a grueling multi-week proceeding. If convicted on the top charges, all six defendants face a statutory maximum of life in federal prison.
For the "Voice of the Streets," the stakes have never been higher. As 21st April approaches, the music world will be watching to see if the "Savior" of Chicago drill can survive his toughest battle yet: the United States government.
