Nationwide — Rapper and film mogul 50 Cent is praising Lil Durk’s attorney, Drew Findling, after the Chicago rapper was acquitted of all five charges in his federal murder-for-hire trial. The high-profile courtroom victory also connects to 50 Cent’s upcoming scripted drama Billion Dollar Lawyer, which is based on Findling’s career representing high-profile hip-hop clients.
After the verdict, 50 Cent shared a photo of Findling speaking to reporters outside the Los Angeles courthouse and gave him a shoutout on Instagram. “Yes B!TCH I am Drew Finding The Billion Dollar Lawyer., @drewfindling Not [Guilty]!” he wrote, according to Complex. The nickname has a history of its own, as Young Dolph reportedly gave Findling the “Billion Dollar Lawyer” title in 2017. The attorney has since represented several well-known hip-hop figures, including Cardi B, Gucci Mane, Lil Baby and DaBaby.
That same career is now the focus of 50 Cent’s upcoming television project. The rapper is executive producing Billion Dollar Lawyer with Quality Control Music’s Quality Films, and he released a trailer for the scripted drama in January. His praise for Findling also comes after he publicly backed the attorney when he joined Durk’s defense in 2024. At the time, 50 suggested that Findling could help Durk return home if prosecutors had not built a strong enough case. “If they didn’t cross their T’s and dot their i’s he gonna hit the bricks again,” he said.
That prediction became relevant when a Los Angeles federal jury cleared Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, of all five charges after more than two days of deliberations. Prosecutors had accused him of financing a 2022 shooting targeting rapper Quando Rondo. They alleged the attack was carried out as retaliation for the 2020 killing of King Von. Rondo survived, but his cousin, Saviay’a “Lul Pab” Robinson, was killed. Durk’s defense team, which included Findling and attorney Brian Steel, challenged the government’s evidence and questioned the credibility of cooperating witnesses.
The jury acquitted Durk of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, using interstate facilities to commit murder-for-hire resulting in death, and three stalking-related charges. During deliberations, jurors requested digital evidence and later asked the judge to clarify the meaning of “intent.” The defense had argued that Durk’s former assistant Kavon “OTF Vonnie” Grant orchestrated the shooting without Durk’s knowledge. When the not-guilty verdicts were announced, Durk became emotional in court as his wife, India Royale, comforted his mother.
The acquittal does not mean Durk is free yet. He remains in federal custody and is scheduled to face a separate federal trial involving racketeering-related charges beginning Oct. 5. Outside the courthouse, Findling celebrated the verdict while also offering condolences to Robinson’s family. “Twenty-two months ago, Durk and I made an agreement that we would make history with the greatest verdict in this country, and it happened today,” he said. He also called for Durk to be released. Co-defendants Deandre Wilson and David Lindsay were convicted of stalking and stalking conspiracy but acquitted of the other charges they faced.