Bradford Cohen Calls For Lil Durk’s Release After AllHipHop Contraband Report

Bradford Cohen called for Lil Durk to be released on bond after sharing AllHipHop’s report on the federal contraband investigation prosecutors cited in their fight to keep the rapper jailed.

The criminal-defense attorney used his @lawronin Instagram account to criticize the government’s reliance on alleged jail-rule violations, arguing that the claims were a familiar way to oppose release when the underlying case was weak.

“This is one of the oldest plays in the game. When your argument is weak say the Defendant cant even follow instructions in the prison,” Cohen wrote.

His post displayed AllHipHop’s November 4 story, “Lil Durk Faces Contraband Investigation As Feds Fight His Release.”

That report detailed prosecutors’ allegations that Durk used unauthorized communication devices and helped bring contraband into the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles.

Prosecutors argued that his conduct in custody showed he would not follow restrictions outside jail. They accused him of making hundreds of unauthorized calls, using other inmates’ phone access and refusing a cell search.

Cohen rejected the government’s framing.

“Makes the government look petty in this case as they were already losers,” he wrote.

The reference followed Durk’s September 11 acquittal on all five charges tried in the murder-for-hire prosecution arising from the 2022 Los Angeles shooting that killed Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson. Prosecutors had accused Durk of financing an attack targeting Robinson’s cousin, Quando Rondo.

Lil Durk remained detained on separate murder-in-aid-of-racketeering and firearm charges, including allegations tied to Stephon Mack’s January 2022 killing in Chicago. He pleaded not guilty, and the remaining trial was set for August 30, 2027.

Cohen’s criticism went beyond the contraband claims. He argued that prosecutors applied their public-safety concerns differently when defendants agreed to cooperate and described pretrial detention as pressure to strike a deal.

“Bond is for the most part used as leverage. Leverage to flip and leverage to plea,” Cohen wrote.

Durk’s lawyers offered future music royalties, publishing income and earnings from his name, image and likeness as security for his release. The proposal also included property and assets pledged by supporters, with Sony backing a guarantee capped at $1 million.

Jay-Z submitted a letter supporting release, while J. Cole and former Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx also backed the request. Robinson’s family said it did not object if the court considered bond appropriate.

Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald heard arguments on November 4 and took the request under submission without immediately ruling. The prosecution opposed release based on its assessment of flight risk, public safety and the alleged conduct in custody.

Cohen backed the defense proposal and urged the judge to approve it.

“The judge should GRANT him a bond. This is a very strong bond package. If he does, this will be another ding in the governments case. They need to just cut bait,” he wrote.