CHICAGO – Famous Chicago rapper Lil Durk was arrested by US marshals in Miami on Thursday night before flying to Italy on a private jet – the same day five members of his crew were arrested as part of a murder-for-hire plot that Durk allegedly committed . They orchestrated it.

The 32-year-old rapper, whose real name is Durk Devontay Banks, was arrested on murder-for-hire charges and appeared in a Florida court on Friday. Murder-for-hire charges were filed in federal court in Los Angeles as part of Durk’s plan to avenge the death of his friend, Chicago rapper King Von, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Friday.

In the complaint, authorities said Banks booked three international flights Thursday morning after the co-conspirators were arrested: a one-way flight from Miami to Dubai, a flight from Fort Lauderdale to Switzerland and a private flight from Miami to Italy.

The flight to Italy was scheduled to depart at 8 p.m. Central Time on Thursday, but agents caught up with Banks near the airport about an hour before takeoff and arrested him, according to the complaint.

The rapper is expected to be tried in Los Angeles federal court in the coming weeks.

Banks is believed to have placed a “bounty cash” on rapper Quando Rondo in retaliation for an associate of Rondo’s shooting and killing of King Von in 2020, according to the complaint. Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, was killed in the Aug. 19, 2022 attack at the Los Angeles gas station at the center of the federal case.

According to the complaint, Rondo survived 18 shots fired at him after Durk’s hitmen “tracked” and “chased” his car.

Authorities said Durk flew to California on a private jet with one of the attackers the day before the murder, and that the crew used money tied to Durk and his music company Only the Family (OTF) to carry out the attack.

The hitman’s flights were paid for using a credit card linked to Banks, but Banks told the recipient via an iCloud message, “Do not book flights under any name unrelated to me.”

Another indictment unsealed last week charges Durk’s alleged accomplices — Kavon London Grant, Deandre Dontrell Wilson, Keith Jones, David Brian Lindsey and Asa Houston — in the murder-for-hire plot that now refers to Banks as “Partner.” Conspirator 1.” The five men were arrested in Chicago on Thursday morning before Durk was arrested near the Miami airport.

Grant is believed to have purchased ski masks for the hitmen used in the killing of Rondo’s cousin and paid for Los Angeles County hotel rooms with a credit card in Banks’ name, according to the criminal complaint.

Earlier this month, the mother of slain Chicago rapper Carlton Weekly, known as FBG Duck – He filed a lawsuit against Banks and the OTF record label, He claimed that Lil Durk was the puppet master of the events that led to the shooting death of FBG Duck while shopping on the Gold Coast on August 4, 2020.

In January, a federal jury found: Six people guilty of blackmail and conspiracy To kill FBG Duck. Prosecutors claimed the men were gang members within the Black Disciples’ O Block faction and acted in retaliation for the rapper’s alliance with the Gangster Disciples’ Tookaville faction, according to the Sun-Times.

The diss tracks that FBG Duck and alleged O Block gang leader King Von have been fueling for years culminated in July 2020, when FBG Duck released the song “Dead B—-“, a reference to deceased O Block gang members. , According to Sun-Times.

The criminal complaint unsealed Friday also alleges that OTF is a “hybrid organization” operating as a “music collective and gang” led by Banks.

A longtime star of the Chicago drill scene, Lil Durk’s fame has soared in recent years. She was photographed with Mayor Brandon Johnson, former Mayor Lori Lightfoot, State’s Attorney Kim Foxx and local city council members. he was He was recently invited onto the field for the Chicago Bears’ game in London..

Banks became Johnson’s largest individual donor, giving $150,000 to his campaign through an LLC in January 2023. According to public finance records.

Last week, the mayors of suburbs Broadview and Bellwood jointly presented the rapper with the keys to their villages. Neighborhood Heroes FoundationSupporting Chicago youth by promoting education and violence prevention.

At an unrelated press conference Friday afternoon, Johnson did not say whether he would return Lil Durk’s donation.

“Here is another example of a young Black man growing up with significant trauma, which led to life choices that he was extremely open and vocal about.” Johnson told the Tribune.. “You’re asking me if I should make a decision about a Black man before a full hearing.”

an 18 year old was killed on sunday night The shooting occurred near the United Center parking lot just minutes before the start of a Lil Durk concert he was planning to attend.

“Damn Durk” was trending on social media platform X Friday morning as news of Lil Durk’s arrest spread online.

Many accounts reference the rapper’s song “Federal Nightmares” from his 2022 album “7220,” in which he describes nightmares of appearing in federal court after a friend served as a witness in a criminal case.

“Delete my iCloud if I really think they’re on me,” Lil Durk sings in the song.

Block Club’s Atavia Reed contributed.

---

Listen to the Block Club Chicago podcast: