Kasey “OTF Jam” Hester faced intense questioning from Lil Durk’s defense attorney Brian Steel, who challenged the cooperating witness over his criminal history, jail calls and changing accounts of the alleged plot.
August 31, 2026: Lil Durk’s federal murder-for-hire trial entered another intense phase as Kasey “OTF Jam” Hester, an admitted participant in the 2022 shooting that killed Quando Rondo’s cousin, faced a lengthy cross-examination from the rapper’s defense attorney.
Hester has testified for the prosecution that Lil Durk, whose real name is Durk Banks, was involved in an alleged plot targeting rapper Quando Rondo. During cross-examination, however, attorney Brian Steel focused heavily on Hester’s credibility, his criminal history, his cooperation agreement with federal authorities and recorded jail calls in which he discussed wanting to avoid a lengthy prison sentence.
HOLR breaks down the story here.
Who Is OTF Jam?
Kasey “OTF Jam” Hester is a cooperating witness who has pleaded guilty to his role in the August 2022 shooting that killed Saviay’a Robinson, known as Lul Pab.
Robinson was the cousin of Quando Rondo, whose real name is Tyquian Bowman. Rondo survived the shooting at a Los Angeles-area gas station.
Hester has acknowledged that he was one of three gunmen who opened fire on Rondo’s vehicle. He told jurors that he wanted to back out of the operation but believed doing so could put his own life at risk.
His testimony is important to the prosecution because he has directly connected Durk to the alleged plot.
However, the defense has argued that Hester has strong personal reasons to cooperate with prosecutors and has repeatedly challenged whether his testimony can be trusted.
Brian Steel Attacks Hester’s Credibility
During cross-examination, Steel repeatedly questioned Hester about his criminal past and the benefits he could receive by cooperating with the government.
Hester had previously served 12 years on an attempted murder conviction and was arrested in May 2023 while on parole after police found him riding in a vehicle with a gun.
Steel also highlighted Hester’s cooperation agreement with federal officials and suggested that the witness was motivated by the possibility of receiving a reduced sentence.
At one point, Steel questioned Hester about whether “going home” was his main goal.
Hester acknowledged that he wanted to return home but denied that he was simply testifying to help himself or to secure a particular outcome for Durk.
“I’m just telling my side of the story,” Hester said during the questioning.
Jail Calls Become a Major Part of Cross-Examination
One of the most significant parts of Friday’s proceedings involved recorded jail calls.
Steel played a May 2023 call between Hester and his wife in which Hester discussed the possibility of receiving help from authorities and returning home.
In another call with the mother of his young son, Hester appeared to discuss cooperating with investigators and doing what was necessary to avoid a lengthy prison sentence.
The defense used the recordings to suggest that Hester had a strong incentive to cooperate with prosecutors.
Hester offered his own explanation, saying he was trying to give the mothers of his children hope while he was incarcerated and did not want to tell them everything about the case.
The exchange gave jurors another opportunity to consider whether Hester’s cooperation was motivated primarily by his desire for a reduced sentence.
Hester’s Statements About the Alleged Bounty Shifted
Steel also confronted Hester with differences between his early statements to federal investigators and his testimony in court.
In a recorded May 24, 2023 interview, Hester initially told investigators that he had never spoken with Durk about putting money on Quando Rondo’s head before traveling to California.
When investigators later pressed him about whether he knew of a bounty, Hester initially said he did not know and could not say. Later in the interview, however, he said Durk had made it known that anyone who got Rondo would be “straight.”
The defense argued that these changes raised questions about the reliability of Hester’s account.
Hester’s courtroom testimony went further. He claimed Durk had addressed a group at an Atlanta recording studio and indicated that anyone who killed Rondo would be rewarded, with Hester saying amounts of either $500,000 or $1 million were discussed.
Steel pressed him over why the details appeared to become more extensive as time passed.
The Alleged Target Was Quando Rondo
The prosecution alleges that the shooting was connected to the 2020 killing of Durk’s close friend and fellow rapper King Von.
Von was fatally shot following a confrontation involving Rondo’s associates in Atlanta.
Prosecutors allege that Durk subsequently wanted retaliation against Rondo and that the 2022 attack was part of that effort. The shooting ultimately killed Rondo’s cousin, Robinson, while Rondo survived.
The defense has strongly disputed the prosecution’s characterization of Durk’s involvement.
Defense attorneys have argued that another OTF associate, Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant, was responsible for organizing the attack and that witnesses have shifted blame toward Durk to benefit themselves.
Hester Says He Wanted to Back Out
Hester has also described his own participation in the shooting as something he did not want to carry out.
He testified that he had recently been released from a lengthy prison sentence and questioned why he had been recruited for the operation.
According to Hester, he believed refusing to participate could put his life at risk. He ultimately traveled to California with other men and became one of the shooters involved in the attack.
The defense has used those circumstances to emphasize Hester’s own involvement in the crime and his potential motivation to cooperate with authorities.
The Defense Is Focusing on What Hester Stands to Gain
Steel’s strategy has been to repeatedly return to the same question: what does Hester gain by testifying against Durk?
The defense has pointed to Hester’s criminal history, cooperation agreement, jail calls and statements to investigators as reasons jurors should scrutinize his testimony carefully.
Hester, meanwhile, has maintained that he is telling his version of events and has denied that his goal is to see Durk receive a life sentence.
That credibility battle could become one of the most important aspects of the prosecution’s case.
Lil Durk Has Pleaded Not Guilty
Durk has pleaded not guilty to the federal charges against him.
Prosecutors allege that he orchestrated a murder-for-hire plot targeting Rondo. The defense maintains that Durk had nothing to do with organizing the shooting and that the prosecution’s cooperating witnesses are attempting to shift responsibility.
The allegations remain unproven, and Durk is presumed innocent unless prosecutors prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt.
The Trial Is Still Ongoing
Hester’s testimony represents only one part of a much larger federal case.
The first week of trial has included testimony from cooperating witnesses, text messages and debates over whether lyrics and unreleased music videos should be presented to jurors.
The judge previously allowed prosecutors to use certain Lil Durk lyrics and videos as evidence, despite the defense’s objections.
As the trial continues, the prosecution will attempt to establish its alleged connection between Durk and the shooting, while the defense is expected to continue challenging the credibility of witnesses who have received benefits through cooperation.
HOLR has the latest news on Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire trial as testimony and evidence continue to unfold in federal court.
FAQs
Who is OTF Jam in the Lil Durk trial?
OTF Jam, whose real name is Kasey “Kacey” Hester, is a cooperating witness who pleaded guilty to his role in the 2022 shooting that killed Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson. He has testified against Lil Durk.
What did OTF Jam testify about Lil Durk?
Hester testified that Durk was involved in an alleged effort to target Quando Rondo following the death of King Von. He claimed Durk communicated that people who killed Rondo would be rewarded. Durk’s defense disputes these allegations.
Why did Brian Steel question OTF Jam’s jail calls?
Steel used recorded jail calls to challenge Hester’s credibility and highlight his desire to avoid a lengthy prison sentence. The defense argued that his cooperation with authorities could give him a reason to testify against Durk.
Published by HOLR Magazine