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Durk Devontay Banks a.k.a. Lil Durk entered a not guilty plea to the charges of murder-for-hire plot against rival Quando Rondo on Thursday, November 14, 2024. Citing his court filing, internet personality DJ Akademiks revealed that the rapper hired high-profile lawyer Drew Findling to represent him.
Findling is a well-known defense attorney from the Atlanta area who has previously represented Donald Trump in his Georgia election interference case. He has also defended several hip-hop artists like Cardi B, Offset, Quavo, Gucci Mane, YFN Lucci, NBA Youngboy, and Waka Flocka Flame, among others.
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Last month, US Marshals arrested Lil Durk near the Miami International Airport for allegedly plotting to murder Quando Rondo, a rival of the former's OTF (Only The Family) label. Per the authorities, Banks placed a bounty on Quando in 2022 for his hand in the killing of OTF member King Von. It allegedly resulted in the shooting that led to the death of Quondo's cousin.
"We do not in any way distinguish how we select cases"- Lil Durk's lawyer Drew Findling on why he represented Trump despite his liberal views
According to a November 2024 press release by the DA's office, authorities arrested Lil Durk as he attempted to flee the country. The rapper had three international flights booked under his name to Italy, Switzerland, and Dubai.
Authorities alleged that he "coordinated and paid for five co-conspirators to travel from Chicago to California a day before the murder."
Per the release, in addition to the murder-for-hire charge, the Grammy-winning rapper is facing one count each of conspiracy, using interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, and "using, carrying, and discharging firearms and a machine gun and possession of such firearms in furtherance of a crime of violence resulting in death."
Having Drew Findling defend A-list clients like Donald Trump, it wasn't surprising that the rapper hired him to boost his chances in the case. In an August 2023 interview with Vanity Fair, Findling, a self-proclaimed "left-wing liberal" who once called Trump "racist" and "pathetic," revealed why he chose to represent the latter, stating:
"We do not in any way distinguish how we select cases. We don’t choose cases or not take cases because of the race of our client, the ethnicity of our client, the sexual orientation of our client, the substantive charge of the client, the political views of the client."
He continued:
"But if not me, then who else? I think if one of us starts doing that, then the system collapses."
While Findling was eventually replaced by Steven Sadow, he successfully defended Waka Flocka Flame in his gun-carrying charge in 2017 and had battery charges against Quavo dropped in 2018. The charge stemmed from an altercation at a Grammy's afterparty.
In a December 2018 report, The Hollywood Reporter listed Findling as one of the top 20 lawyers. The same year, Billboard recognized him as an R&B/Hip-Hop 100 Power Player.
Lil Durk is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. Citing the court documents, a report by the Chicago-Sun Times revealed he will remain there until December 12 for his bond hearing.
Per the publication, prosecutors say Lil Durk is a flight risk and danger to the community.
