Lil Durk Found Not Guilty — So Why Is He Still in Jail?

 

Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk has been acquitted of all charges in his high-profile federal murder-for-hire trial, but the Chicago rapper is not going home yet.

A federal jury in Los Angeles found Durk, whose real name is Durk Banks, not guilty on Friday of charges stemming from a 2022 shooting that targeted rival rapper Quando Rondo. The attack resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson.

The jury deliberated for three days before reaching its verdict. Durk was cleared of charges including conspiracy, stalking resulting in death and murder for hire. 

The verdict triggered celebrations among Durk’s supporters outside the federal courthouse, with fans and livestreamers gathering after news of the acquittal.

But despite winning the case, Durk remains in federal custody.

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Why Lil Durk Is Still in Jail

Durk’s acquittal does not end his federal legal battle.

He faces a separate trial involving racketeering and weapons-related allegations. That case was separated from the murder-for-hire trial and is scheduled to begin on October 5, 2026. 

That means the rapper cannot simply walk out of custody following Friday’s verdict.

Durk has been in federal custody since his arrest in 2024. Prosecutors have indicated that they intend to continue pursuing the separate case despite the jury’s decision in the murder-for-hire trial. 

What Was the First Case About?

Prosecutors accused Durk of arranging a revenge attack against Quando Rondo following the 2020 killing of Durk’s close friend and fellow rapper King Von.

According to prosecutors, the 2022 attack was intended to kill Rondo at a Los Angeles gas station. Rondo survived, but his cousin Saviay’a Robinson was fatally shot.

Durk’s defense denied that he orchestrated the attack and challenged the credibility of cooperating witnesses who testified against him. The jury ultimately rejected the government’s case against him and found him not guilty. 

Two co-defendants were also acquitted of the murder-for-hire charges, although they were convicted of separate stalking-related offenses. 

Another Major Test Awaits

The October trial could now become the next major chapter in Durk’s legal battle.

For his fans, Friday’s verdict was a major victory. But legally, the situation is more complicated: being found not guilty in one federal case does not automatically release someone who remains detained because of another pending case.

Durk’s future will therefore depend heavily on the outcome of the October proceedings.

For now, the rapper has cleared one of the most serious legal challenges he has faced but he remains behind bars awaiting another day in federal court.