LOS ANGELES — In day three of the federal murder-for-hire trial against Durk Banks (Lil Durk), key prosecution witness Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester took the stand to detail the ground-level operations behind the August 2022 shooting targeting Georgia rapper Quando Rondo. Hester’s testimony introduced new individuals into the plot—specifically highlighting how a street marijuana transaction was leveraged to track the target’s location. However, despite naming multiple co-conspirators and detailing years of personal loyalty from Banks, Hester’s account fell short of establishing a direct financial bounty or explicit murder command from the OTF leader.
It’s Time to Use Dispensaries: How a Street Weed Connection Became a Setup
According to Hester, the crew tracking Quando Rondo (Tyquian Bowman) capitalized on informal street connections to trace his movements through Los Angeles.
Hester testified that rapper Doodie Lo was in touch with a street marijuana dealer who was actively communicating with Rondo about purchasing weed. By tapping into this street-level connection, the group obtained Rondo’s exact location as he prepared to leave his hotel.
The testimony illustrates the stark security risks of relying on street plugs for basic transactions while traveling. For high-profile artists on the road, informal weed deals leave an easily exploited operational footprint—proving why navigating legal, licensed dispensaries offers a level of privacy, standardized security, and safety that informal street buys simply cannot guarantee.
OTF Jam’s Testimony Implicates New Parties but Doesn’t Get the Prosecution Closer to Durk
While Hester’s testimony offered jurors an intimate look inside the crew’s inner workings, it highlighted a significant evidentiary gap in the government’s murder-for-hire charge.
Expanding the Web of Involvement Hester named several key individuals who carried out the physical logistics of the plot:
- Doodie Lo: Identified as the link to the local weed dealer who provided Rondo’s location details.
- Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant: Described as the operational handler who procured handguns, secured rental vehicles, and gave Hester guns for “protection”.
- DeAndre “DeDe” Wilson & David Lindsey: Named as key players traveling from San Diego to Los Angeles, with Wilson driving the group and coordinating logistics.
Loyalty vs. Financial Incentives: Where Is the Hire? A central focus of Hester’s testimony was his long-standing personal relationship with Banks, rather than a paid contract. Hester testified that while serving a 12-year prison sentence, Banks “never forgot” him, regularly taking his phone calls, putting between $50 and $1,000 on his books, and contributing $1,000 toward his legal fees. After Hester’s release, Banks authorized flight bookings for him through Jason Smith.
However, Hester’s testimony lacked any mention of a financial bounty, paid hit, or transactional agreement offered by Banks to execute the shooting.
Insulation Around Durk Crucially, Hester’s account showed that Banks maintained strict distance from the operation on the ground:
- Overheard Audio: The primary connection to Banks during the trip was an overhead FaceTime call where Hester recalled hearing Banks’ voice say “I’m here” over a separate phone held by Boonie. Hester also noted Wilson referred to the crew as “Navy SEALs” during a FaceTime call with Banks while driving to Los Angeles.
- Direct Order to Distance: Hester explicitly testified that Banks instructed group members not to call or contact him directly once they arrived in Los Angeles.
- Independent Ground Action: Lower-level associates independently managed every operational step—purchasing black hoodies, acquiring firearms, and positioning themselves outside the hotel—without direct, on-the-scene directives from Banks.
During cross-examination, Banks’ lead defense attorney, Brian Steel, seized on these points. Steel emphasized that emotional support, loyalty to a friend after prison, artistic branding, and raw grief following King Von’s death do not equate to a directed, paid murder plot.
As the trial continues, prosecutors face the ongoing challenge of proving Banks acted as a definitive mastermind behind a paid conspiracy, rather than an isolated figurehead surrounded by autonomous actors operating on their own initiative.
