Federal court documents and recent media reports say prosecutors allege Chicago rapper Durk Banks (stage name Lil Durk) placed bounties and arranged for hitmen to target rival rapper Quando Rondo and six others in retaliation after the 2020 killing of King Von.
What prosecutors allege
According to affidavits and filings obtained by reporters, a confidential witness identified as CW‑1 told investigators that Durk paid to have people travel from Chicago to Los Angeles to “track, stalk and attempt to murder” Quando Rondo and others — a plot prosecutors say culminated in a 2022 shooting that left a relative of Rondo dead. These claims appear in a superseding indictment and related federal documents.
Legal status and context
Durk has been arrested on federal murder‑for‑hire related charges tied to the alleged plot and has pleaded not guilty in prior court proceedings; prosecutors have previously charged several associates in connection with the incident. The Department of Justice press release outlining the earlier indictment describes a coordinated conspiracy involving travel, weapons purchases and payments.
Defense response and what to watch next
Durk’s legal team has denied wrongdoing in past filings and is expected to challenge the credibility and interpretation of confidential‑witness statements and other evidence at trial. Key next steps include pretrial hearings, potential motions to exclude certain affidavit material, and any additional indictments or superseding charges that prosecutors may file.
Why this matters
If the allegations are proven, prosecutors say the scheme would represent a striking example of an organized, retaliatory murder‑for‑hire plot tied to violent feuds in the rap world — and it raises questions about the use of music‑industry networks to coordinate crimes and the role of confidential witnesses in federal investigations.
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