Chicago rapper Lil Durk, known for his collaboration with Drake and winning a Grammy for Best Melodic Rap Performance, has been booked into Broward County Jail on a murder-for-hire charge. As reported by NBC Miami, the 32-year-old, whose legal name is Durk Banks, was arrested by U.S. Marshals, but the specifics of his involvement in the case being unclear present.
According to the New York Post, this arrest is part of a broader investigation that includes five members of the Only The Family (OTF) crew, a Chicago-based group formed by Lil Durk in 2010. The federal indictment alleges that members of OTF were involved in a Los Angeles murder-for-hire plot as retaliation for the killing of musician King Von, who was shot by an associate of rapper Quando Rondo in 2020.
Lil Durk, who has publicly denied claims that OTF is a gang, has seen his share of legal troubles in the past. He faced five felony charges related to a February 2019 shooting and surrendered to police in May 2019. The charges included a criminal attempt to commit murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.
Prosecutors allege that the individuals linked to the OTF used an OTF-associated credit card to facilitate their travel arrangements for the murder-for-hire scheme. “Prosecutors said that on the same day as the shooting, an unnamed co-conspirator used an OTF-associated credit card to purchase plane tickets for Wilson, Jones, Lindsey, and Houston to return to Chicago,” according to the indictment obtained by the New York Post. The hearing for Jones and Houston is scheduled in Chicago, while Grant, Wilson, and Lindsey will be transferred to Los Angeles as they have waived their right to a hearing.
The charges against Lil Durk represent a major shift for an artist known for chart-topping collaborations and critical acclaim in the rap industry. His representatives have not commented on the situation, and it's uncertain how this will impact his status in the music community.
