Federal prosecutors mentioned Thursday that rapper Lil Durk, accused of commissioning a homicide two years in the past in Los Angeles, could also be linked to a different killing in Chicago – allegations that helped persuade a choose to order the Grammy winner Award to stay in jail as in his case. proceeds.
During a detention listening to, U.S. Judge Patricia Donahue mentioned the 32-year-old rapper, whose authorized title is Durk Devontay Banks, has vital sources and the power to flee.
Banks’ attorneys had pushed for his launch, providing bail secured by $2.3 million in fairness in two houses in Georgia and $1 million in money. They additionally mentioned they’d rent round the clock safety to make sure compliance with the situations imposed by the court docket.
More than 30 individuals, together with household, buddies and Sony Music representatives, crowded into the courtroom, together with the assistant U.S. legal professional. Ian Yanniello mentioned it demonstrates the truth that Banks “is a strong and influential man who has vital sources.”
“This case is about how he used that energy, he used that affect and the way he used these sources to advertise and perpetuate violence with lethal penalties,” Yanniello mentioned.
Banks is accused of ordering the homicide of Tyquian Bowman, a Georgia rapper referred to as Quando Rondo, whose cousin was killed in a failed ambush close to the Beverly Center mall in Los Angeles in 2022. Banks has pleaded not responsible to the accusations.
According to an indictment, Banks tried to market the capturing by rapping about his revenge “with music that explicitly references audio from a information clip” of Bowman screaming “no, no!” after seeing his cousin’s physique.
In court docket Thursday, Drew Findling, Banks’ legal professional, disputed that declare, saying the tune prosecutors referenced was recorded eight months earlier than the capturing.
The prosecutor countered that the indictment “lists vital proof of Mr. Banks’ involvement.”
In a short filed Thursday, prosecutors additionally cited a separate federal case in Chicago involving the killing of Stephon Mack exterior a youth middle.
A search warrant initially filed beneath seal in Illinois in April 2023 and filed publicly with redactions Wednesday alleges that Banks “provide(ed) cash to individuals to kill these answerable for his brother’s homicide and, extra particularly, providing to pay cash for any gangster disciple that will get killed.”
Banks’ brother, Dontay Banks, Jr., was shot and killed exterior a nightclub in Harvey, Illinois, in June 2021, in response to the search warrant.
“The proof collected on this case additionally exhibits that the defendant allegedly awarded money bounties to solicit different murders, together with that of a member of the family of a witness,” California prosecutors mentioned of their temporary. “The defendant’s modus operandi is obvious: He will use his energy, his cash, his affect and any pretrial launch to hazard anybody he perceives as a menace, together with the witnesses on this case.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. legal professional’s workplace in Illinois mentioned two individuals have been charged in Mack’s killing: Anthony Montgomery-Wilson and Preston Powell. Asked whether or not Banks has been or will probably be charged, the spokesperson declined to remark.
Jonathan Brayman, one in all Banks’ attorneys, mentioned after the detention listening to that his shopper has not been charged in reference to the Chicago capturing and “we don’t anticipate that he will probably be charged.”
“The information coming from there has nothing to do with us,” Findling added. “Our shopper had nothing to do with this; this isn’t a part of our case.
During the detention listening to, Banks smiled at his spouse and mom, who cried throughout the proceedings. Banks blew a kiss to his spouse as U.S. marshals carried him away.
“We love you,” his household and buddies shouted to him within the hallway exterior the courtroom.
