The long-awaited legal showdown between the federal government and Chicago rap superstar Lil Durk has hit another major roadblock. Just two weeks before opening statements were scheduled to begin in Los Angeles, the murder for hire trial that has captivated the hip hop world is on the verge of being pushed to the spring.
In a dramatic filing submitted late yesterday, attorneys for three of Durk’s five codefendants requested to adjourn the current January 20 trial date. They are proposing a new start date of May 4, 2026. The reason involves an “avalanche” of discovery materials that defense teams argue they simply cannot review in time.
However, the most telling detail in the court documents is not the delay itself. It is Durk’s reaction to it. Unlike his coconspirators, Durk (born Durk Devontay Banks) has reportedly objected to the postponement. Incarcerated since October 2024, the “All My Life” rapper is seemingly desperate to clear his name and return home. This creates a rare friction within the defense camp of the alleged OTF (Only The Family) criminal enterprise.
The motion, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, portrays a legal team overwhelmed by the government’s investigation.
Attorneys for codefendants DeAndre “DeDe” Wilson, Keith “Flacka” Jones, and David “Browneyez” Lindsey state that prosecutors have dumped “hundreds of gigabytes” of digital forensic data on them in recent months. This trove reportedly includes:
- Over 30,000 pages of investigative reports.
- Surveillance footage from multiple states.
- Jail calls and wiretap audio.
- Complex DNA analysis and ballistics reports.
“The case is so unusual and so complex… that it is unreasonable to expect preparation for pretrial proceedings or for the trial itself within the time limits,” the filing reads.
Judge Michael Fitzgerald, who has presided over the turbulent pretrial phase, is expected to rule on the motion by the end of the week. Legal experts tell Yahoo Entertainment that in capital adjacent federal cases, judges almost always err on the side of caution to avoid an appeal later. This makes a delay in May highly likely despite Durk’s protest.
Durk’s break from his codefendants is a significant development. For over a year, the six men have presented a united front. Now the fatigue of indefinite detention seems to be setting in.
Durk has been held in federal custody without bail for over 14 months. Recent reports indicate he has spent the last 131 days in solitary confinement at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, allegedly over an infraction involving an Apple Watch.
His legal team, led by high-profile defense attorney Drew Findling, has previously argued that the government is dragging its feet. By objecting to this latest continuance, Durk is signaling that he believes the government’s case is weak. He is ready to test it before a jury immediately.
If the judge grants a delay for the codefendants but not for Durk, it could theoretically result in a severance. This means Durk would be tried alone. However, prosecutors prefer to try alleged conspiracies together to paint a broader picture of the criminal organization.
The charges stem from a violent shooting on August 19, 2022, at a gas station near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles. According to the indictment, Durk put a monetary bounty on the head of rival rapper Tyquian “Quando Rondo” Bowman. The hit was allegedly ordered as retaliation for the November 2020 murder of Durk’s close friend and protégé, King Von, in Atlanta.
Prosecutors claim that the five codefendants used OTF funds to fly from Chicago to San Diego. They then drove to Los Angeles to ambush Bowman. While Bowman survived the hail of 18 bullets unscathed, his cousin Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson was struck and killed. Robinson was 24 years old.
The federal government has labeled OTF not just a record label but a “hybrid gang” that operates at the direction of Banks. If convicted on the top charge of conspiracy to use interstate facilities to commit murder for hire resulting in death, Durk faces a mandatory minimum of life in federal prison.
A History of Delays
This is far from the first time the calendar has shifted.
- Original Date: The trial was initially slated for January 7, 2025.
- First Delay: It was pushed to October 2025 to allow for more discovery.
- Second Delay: In September 2025, the date was moved to the current January 20, 2026.
Each delay has kept Durk’s music career in suspended animation. While his team released the album Deep Thoughts during his incarceration, a potential tour and millions in revenue remain on hold.
Complicating matters is the ongoing drama regarding witness safety. In late 2025, prosecutors alleged that threats had been made against government witnesses and even the prosecutors themselves. Durk’s defense team aggressively moved to dismiss the indictment in November. They argued that these allegations were prejudicial and vague. Judge Fitzgerald denied that motion in December. This kept the case on track until now.
As it stands, the “Voice of the Heroes” will likely remain silent in a cell until the flowers bloom in May.
