Shortly after being charged with murder-for-hire in connection with another homicide in Los Angeles, Lil Durk was connected to the murder of a suspected Chicago gang leader.
According to recently released court documents, the rapper, whose actual name is Durk Banks, paid for the shooting death of Stephon Mack in January 2022. Mack was the accused commander of the Gangster Disciples’ Smashville chapter.
The murder is thought to have been retaliation for the 2021 shooting death of Durk’s brother Dontay “DThang” Banks outside a Harvey, Illinois nightclub.
In the filing, filed in April 2023 but unsealed on Wednesday (December 11), a federal agent stated, “Lil Durk was and still is offering money for people to kill those responsible for his brother’s murder, and more specifically, offering to pay money for any Gangster Disciple that is killed.”
Although police sources told the Chicago Tribune that an investigation is still ongoing, Durk has not been charged in relation to Mack’s murder.
Earlier this year, two men—Anthony Montgomery-Wilson and Preston Powell—were accused of conspiring to kill Mack for pay.
On Montgomery-Wilson’s phone, investigators allegedly found a two-person text message exchange in which one of the participants inquired, “Did Durk gave (sic) u that money?”
Prosecutors submitted the disclosed records as proof that Lil Durk should be held in custody until his trial during his detention hearing in his murder-for-hire case on Thursday, December 12.
The rapper’s bid for bond was denied by the court, who sided with the prosecution. On January 7, his trial is scheduled to start.
“Evidence acquired in this case also suggests [Durk] has allegedly put monetary bounties to encourage other killings, including a family member of a witness,” the prosecution said during the hearing, referring to “other murders” that were allegedly planned by Durk.
“[His] strategy is obvious: he will use his resources—money, influence, and power—as well as any pretrial release to put anyone in danger, including the witnesses in this case.”
In order to obtain a bail, Durk’s lawyers had offered to pledge his two Georgia residences, which are valued at a total of $2.3 million, along with $1 million in cash from his record company, Sony Music.
Jonathan Brayman, Durk’s attorney, stated during the hearing, “We were certainly upset, but we will continue to battle on.” “Mr. Banks is still upbeat and enthusiastic about the future. He is incredibly grateful for all of the love and support that he has received since his arrest.
In the murder-for-hire case, Lil Durk’s attorneys assert that the federal government has “no real evidence” against him.
Lil Durk and five other guys were arrested in October for allegedly planning the August 2022 assassination attempt on fellow rapper Quando Rondo.
Rondo lived through the shooting at the L.A. petrol station, but his companion, his cousin Saviey’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, was killed.
According to authorities, the hit was carried out to exact revenge for the death of King Von, Durk’s close buddy and partner, who was slain two years prior in Atlanta during a skirmish with Rondo and his gang.
Durk allegedly put a price on Rondo’s head and provided funds and resources to his OTF (Only the Family) gang so they could carry out the shooting, according to the prosecution.
Durk has entered a not guilty plea to federal accusations of weapons possession and murder-for-hire. He could get a maximum sentence of life in jail if found guilty.
