Here's a comprehensive and detailed breakdown of the indictment against Durk Banks based on the criminal complaint document:
1. Defendant Identification and Charges
Name: Durk Banks (aliases: Lil Durk, Mustafa Abdul Malak).
Charge: Conspiracy to use interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death under 18 U.S.C. § 1958(a).
Date of Incident: August 19, 2022.
Location: Los Angeles, California.
The criminal complaint was issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of California, based on probable cause established through an extensive investigation.
2. Summary of the Case
Banks is accused of orchestrating the murder of T.B., a rival with whom he had a feud stemming from the 2020 death of his close associate, King Von.
Evidence shows Banks placed a monetary bounty on T.B. as retaliation for King Von’s murder. The attack resulted in the death of T.B.'s family member, S.R., who was with T.B. at the time.
Banks and his associates used financial resources and logistics from OTF (Only the Family), a rap collective and gang organization he leads, to coordinate the attack.
3. Timeline of Events and Preparations
August 18, 2022:
OTF associates learned of T.B.’s location through a long-term OTF affiliate known as Co-Conspirator 4.
Banks and several associates traveled from Chicago to Los Angeles using OTF funds.
Co-conspirators, including Jones, Lindsey, Wilson, Houston, and another individual (Co-Conspirator 2), took one-way flights from Chicago to San Diego using an American Express credit card tied to OTF.
Banks and Grant flew separately on a private jet from Chicago to Los Angeles. The complaint states that Grant later purchased ski masks for the attackers and paid for their hotel accommodations using a credit card linked to Banks.
4. Execution of the Murder-for-Hire Plot
On August 19, 2022:
Surveillance footage captured T.B., S.R., and others leaving their hotel and entering a black Cadillac Escalade. The footage shows two vehicles—a white BMW (Murder Vehicle 1) and a white Infiniti (Murder Vehicle 2)—following the Escalade for hours.
The murder occurred at a gas station near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles. Three gunmen wearing masks exited Murder Vehicle 2, fired 18 rounds at the Escalade, and then fled.
Law enforcement later identified the gunmen as Jones, Lindsey, and Co-Conspirator 2 based on a comparison of video footage.
5. Financial Evidence and Communications
Coordination and Payment:
Flight, hotel, and other logistics were financed using American Express credit cards linked to OTF and Astronaut Soundz LLC (an entity managed by Banks and his associates).
Text messages retrieved from Banks’ phone show that he instructed associates to avoid booking flights under names linked to him to obscure his involvement.
Surveillance footage from a hotel and a podcast recorded at a rental property managed by Banks’ manager confirmed his presence in California.
Return Flight: After the shooting, the co-conspirators flew from San Diego back to Chicago, again using OTF-linked financial resources for their flights.
6. Arrest and Attempts to Evade Capture
On October 24, 2024:
Federal and local law enforcement executed multiple search warrants at locations tied to OTF members and arrested five co-conspirators: Grant, Wilson, Jones, Lindsey, and Houston.
Shortly after these arrests, Banks attempted to flee the country. He booked several international flights, including destinations such as Dubai and Switzerland, both of which have no U.S. extradition treaties.
Banks was eventually apprehended near an airport before he could board a private flight to Italy.
7. Structure and Operations of OTF
OTF, led by Banks, functions both as a rap collective and as a violent gang. Its members, under Banks’ direction, engage in criminal activities to maintain their status and loyalty within the organization.
Despite attempts to publicly distance himself from criminal activity—such as initiating scholarships and promoting therapy—evidence suggests Banks used OTF resources to fund and coordinate violent operations.
8. Conclusion and Probable Cause Statement
The affidavit concludes with sufficient probable cause that Banks violated 18 U.S.C. § 1958(a) by conspiring to use interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death.
This conclusion is supported by substantial evidence from financial records, surveillance footage, witness testimonies, and communications that directly link Banks and his associates to the planning and execution of the crime.
