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Judge denies Lil Durk bail in murder-for-hire case, citing rapper’s calls from jail

BBG News

The federal judge decided to keep rapper Lil Durk in custody until his trial for alleged murder-for-hire, pointing out concerns about him breaking jail rules. This includes using fellow inmates’ phone accounts and participating in multi-party calls.

At a bail review court hearing on Thursday, U.S. Magistrate Judge Patricy Donahue stated that the rapper, known as Durk Devontay Banks, demonstrated an “unwillingness to abide by the rules” by exploiting 13 other inmates’ phone privileges at Los Angeles’ Metropolitan Detention Center.

Lawyer for Banks, Drew Findling, contended that other inmates had engaged in similar actions, and therefore, his defense team didn’t view it as a significant obstacle to his release. Additionally, he informed the judge that Banks, who donned a white prayer cap, was deeply devoted to his Islamic faith.

California

On Thursday, federal investigators stated that Lil Durk, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks and who is a Grammy-winning artist, could potentially be connected to an additional homicide in Chicago. They also implicated him for offering rewards for other acts of violence, including a hit on a relative of a witness.

32-year-old Bank is under accusation for instructing the assassination of Tyquian Bowman, also known as Quando Rondo, a Georgia-based rapper. The event that sparked this allegation was the shooting death of Bowman’s cousin in an unsuccessful ambush incident near the Beverly Center mall in Los Angeles, which took place in 2022. However, Bank has denied these charges by pleading not guilty.

Previously, prosecutors had included charges based on lyrics Banks allegedly used to promote a shooting death. Last week, however, they replaced those charges with one for stalking that led to death in a new indictment.

Previously, prosecutors claimed that Banks’ lyrics about his retaliation were set to music that directly referenced a news broadcast where Bowman exclaimed “No, no!” upon discovering his cousin’s deceased body.

This version attempts to simplify the original statement by using everyday language and breaking it down into more straightforward phrases.

During a court hearing in December, Findling informed the judge that the song the prosecution mentioned was created approximately eight months prior to the incident.

At the hearing on Thursday, Findling emphasized the need to eliminate the disputed lyrics from the accusation, stating that it was “indisputably untrue” that his client had profited from or glorified the central event’s demise in question.

The focus in this murder trial isn’t on the defendant’s song lyrics or his music, but rather on his actions,” Assistant U.S. Atty. Ian Yanniello explained to the court.

According to Yanniello, the defense did not present any fresh evidence that challenged the initial December decision, which kept Banks in custody. As for the phone calls from jail, Yanniello stated that Banks is unlikely to abide by the rules.

Findling repeatedly referred to the allegations against his client as “sweeping generalizations.”

If someone is claiming a person is dangerous, they need to provide clear details,” said Findling to the judge.

California

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In several recent murder-for-hire incidents in Los Angeles, the suspected assassins are said to have been careless, according to authorities, creating a path of evidence that connects the crimes to conflicts among Chicago street gangs.

While Findling stated that Banks was prepared to employ round-the-clock security to adhere to the court’s stipulations, the judge raised doubts about whether these guards would be willing to disclose the identity of the person compensating them.

In a statement following the hearing, Findling expressed that the entire case against his client hinges on a single text message taken out of context.

I believe strongly that even without prior convictions, a 32-year-old man deserves some time away from his cell, allowing him to connect with his loved ones and associates.

Banks’ trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 14.

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2025-05-08 23:01

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