Friday evening, September 11, 2026, the world saw Lil Durk found not guilty on all charges. Many people jumped for joy when they heard the news, while others are thinking the same as we are: what happens now? Although Lil Durk is in the clear on those charges that would’ve landed him in prison for life, his RICO trial is still pending and could ultimately have the same outcome. We dive into what it means for him and what more to expect in the days leading up to the second Lil Durk trial.
What Does This RICO Trial Mean for Lil Durk?
Social media was ecstatic when hearing that Lil Durk was found not guilty on his murder-for-hire charges, but many didn’t realize that was just the first of two separate cases he would be fighting. Being found guilty of the charges would have left him serving life in prison. And still, that might be the case. Lil Durk is still in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles.
Durk’s defense team was able to separate the murder-for-hire charges from the racketeering allegations. Now, his defense team must tackle the RICO charges, connected to the 2022 shooting death of Stephon Mack, 24, outside of a Chicago youth center.
This upcoming trial places Lil Durk under allegations of racketeering murder, firearm offenses, and violent crimes in aid of racketeering (RICO Act). Prosecutors allege that these crimes were tied to his Chicago rap squad and the alleged criminal enterprise known as Only The Family (OTF).
If found guilty, this RICO trial could mean that Lil Durk will serve life in prison. But if he is able to do the nearly impossible, and beat two federal cases, he will be a free man.
Durk has been in custody since his arrest October 24, 2024
When Will the Trial Begin?
His RICO trial is set to begin on October 5, 2026. Although we do not know all the evidence prosecutors have against Lil Durk, we do know the charges are serious.
To charge a defendant with RICO, prosecutors must have evidence of a pattern of at least two criminal acts within ten years. So, in this case, Lil Durk’s legal team must prove the charges are unfounded or that they don’t show he is a “leader” of a criminal organization. With the murder-for-hire charge being dismissed, along with the government’s evidence showing text messages between him and his associates, this could mean a stronger defense for Lil Durk’s legal team.
Most recently, Sean “Diddy” Combs was able to beat his RICO case, while Young Thug was able to plead guilty with an early release. So the situation isn’t completely bleak for Durk, but you have to image the prosecution wants a win bad coming off this most recent loss.
Brian Steele, Durk’s lawyer, is a key player in the RICO case, and has a history of beating RICO cases, namely Young Thug’s case. We mentioned Brian Steele briefly when discussing the jury’s decision in the Lil Durk case, but Steele, along with attorney Drew Findling, are the players Lil Durk needs to have even a slight chance of beating his case.
We will continue to keep you updated on the case and the proceedings leading up to it.
What do you believe Lil Durk’s RICO verdict will be? Let us know how you feel about the case in the comments below.
