Lil Durk Trial: Prosecution Rests As Defense Begins Calling Witnesses

Federal prosecutors rested their murder-for-hire case against Lil Durk on Thursday, shifting the trial to a defense team that immediately began calling witnesses.

The government rested shortly after the morning break, according to courtroom reporting from Los Angeles Magazine reporter Taylor Parise.

Lil Durk’s first witnesses supplied context for several pieces of evidence prosecutors presented as proof of an alleged conspiracy, including an armed driver, instructions to “lay low” and a message mentioning a wedding.

Before resting, prosecutors called FBI Special Agent Conor Goepel to describe Lil Durk’s October 24, 2024, arrest in South Florida.

Goepel said agents first expected Lil Durk at Miami International Airport after learning about a flight booked to Dubai. When Lil Durk did not arrive for the flight, the agent later encountered him at Miami Signature Airport, a private aviation facility.

Goepel testified that Lil Durk, another passenger and their driver returned to an SUV after someone in the group noticed him. The agent described what followed as a brief “pursuit.”

However, Goepel acknowledged the SUV was not being driven erratically. He characterized the driving as abnormal.

Agents eventually blocked the SUV inside an airport hotel parking lot. When Goepel asked Lil Durk to identify himself, the rapper allegedly replied, “You know my name.”

Goepel began describing another statement, but Lil Durk’s attorneys objected on Fifth Amendment grounds.

Defense attorney Christy O’Connor pressed Goepel about his description of Lil Durk as fleeing. She noted that agents found no fraudulent passport, that the rapper had not changed his recognizable appearance, and that he had not been ordered to remain in the United States.

Once prosecutors rested, the defense called the sister of Fabian “Big Country” Ford.

Kavon “OTF Vonni” Grant previously testified that Big Country drove a trailer carrying a stolen vehicle during a May 2021 attempt on Quando Rondo’s life in Georgia.

Big Country’s sister testified that she spoke with her brother daily and helped him operate his business. She said he worked as a security guard and drove Lil Durk from approximately 2019 until 2021 or 2022.

She also testified that Big Country routinely carried a firearm while driving Lil Durk because providing security was part of his work.

That testimony supplied the defense with an alternative explanation for Big Country possessing guns while employed by the rapper. Prosecutors asked her no questions.

The defense next called Kevin Freeman, who works in healthcare and with nonprofit organizations.

Freeman told jurors he had the “honor” of working with Lil Durk through the rapper’s Neighborhood Heroes organization.

Freeman said he traveled with Lil Durk to Miami on October 16, 2024, after they returned from a Neighborhood Heroes trip to London. He also said he spoke with the rapper several times on October 24, the day of the arrest.

“I’m the one that told Durk to lay low,” Freeman testified.

Freeman explained that his advice centered on Lil Durk’s children, not an attempt to escape federal authorities.

“The concern is the obvious,” Freeman said. “He has small kids. I didn’t want the kids to be traumatized.”

Freeman said he feared police could raid a home containing Lil Durk’s children. He advised the rapper to stay away from them temporarily and surrender if authorities produced a warrant.

Prosecutors declined to cross-examine Freeman.

Lil Durk’s talent agent, Jeremy Marcano, became the defense’s third witness.

Marcano described Lil Durk as a client and “good friend.” He said he invited the rapper to his August 20, 2022, wedding but learned on August 18 or August 19 that Lil Durk would not attend.

Jurors again saw a message from Jason Smith’s phone that read, “Tell Jay Congrats On The Wedding.”

The exchange appeared alongside Lil Durk’s message, “Don’t book no flights under names involved with me.”

Prosecutors have used that statement to argue Lil Durk wanted to conceal flights purchased for men allegedly involved in the attack. Marcano’s testimony provided jurors with direct context for the wedding reference inside the conversation.

At the lunch break, Marcano was expected to return for one final question from defense attorney Brian Steel.

The government built its case with surveillance footage, financial records, phone data, messages and testimony from three cooperating witnesses.

OTF Vonni, Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester and Keith “Flacka” Jones testified that Lil Durk was connected to the alleged operation against Quando Rondo.

Prosecutors accuse Lil Durk of ordering and financing the attack as revenge for King Von’s November 2020 death. Quando Rondo survived the August 2022 shooting, but his cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, was killed.

The federal charges include conspiracy, murder-for-hire resulting in death and firearm offenses.

Lil Durk has pleaded not guilty. His defense case officially began Thursday and will continue with additional witnesses.