SMH: Lil Durk Denied Bond Again Before His Trial
CLOSE Source: Johnny Nunez / Getty
Lil Durk has been denied bond again as he waits for his upcoming murder-for-hire trial.
The rapper, whose real name is Durk Banks, went back to court on Thursday, May 8, hoping the judge would let him out on bond, but things didn't go his way.
Durk's legal team argued that the whole case should be thrown out, or at least that he should be released, because the prosecutors used fake evidence. They said the grand jury was shown Durk's lyrics and fan-made social media posts, which they believe unfairly painted him as guilty. Still, the judge wasn't convinced and decided Durk would stay locked up until his trial.
Durk's team came with a serious bond package: $1 million in cash, $900,000 in real estate, support from other people willing to put up money, plus a promise that Durk would be on house arrest with 24/7 security watching him. But even with all that, the court said no. Now, Durk will stay in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center until his trial starts. The trial was supposed to begin in January but got pushed back to October 14. It's a tough break for the rapper, who has stayed quiet about the case publicly but continues to say he's innocent.
Even behind bars, Durk has stayed active in music. Earlier this year, he dropped a new album called Deep Thoughts, giving fans a raw look into his mindset during this difficult time.
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SMH: Lil Durk Denied Bond Again Before His Trial was originally published on hiphopwired.com
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Today's Wordle #1519 Hints And Answer For Saturday, August 16th
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FBI Warns Scam Victims To Be On The Lookout For Fake Law Firms Offering To Help Recover Losses
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Using social media or other messaging platforms, fraudsters may contact scam victims and offer their services, claiming to have the authority to investigate recovery cases. To verify the contact, the "lawyers" say they are working with, or have received information on, the scam victim's case from the FBI, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), or other government agency. In some cases, scam victims have reached out to fraudsters on fake websites, which look legitimate, in hopes of recovering their funds. As part of the scam, the fraudsters may request that victims verify their identities by providing personal identifying information or banking information to get their money back. They may also request that victims provide a judgment amount they are seeking from the initial fraudster or pay a portion of the initial fees up front, with the balance due when funds are recovered. 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No law firms are officially authorized partners of U.S. government agencies. Sometimes, fictitious law firms will make references to fake government or regulatory entities, such as the International Financial Trading Commission (INTFTC), to add credibility to their schemes. You should always double-check to see whether such an agency exists. Scammers may also request payment in cryptocurrency or prepaid gift cards. This should set off a few alarm bells. First, most legitimate law firms offer many ways to pay—I don't know any that accept gift cards. And, the federal government does not request payment for law enforcement services provided. Scammers who already know the exact amounts and dates of previous wire transfers where scammed funds were sent should also be a red flag, as is the suggestion that you were on a government-affiliated list of scam victims, which means that you can recover their money through "legal channels." (This doesn't exist.) Scammers may also suggest that previously scammed funds are in an account held at a foreign bank, requiring you to register an account at that bank. The scammers may even provide a domain or website for the bank that appears legitimate, but is actually a fraudulent platform to continue the scheme. Similarly, scammers may attempt to place you in a group chat on WhatsApp or other messaging applications (claiming it's necessary for secrecy and safety) and suggest that they are working with foreign bank processors and attorneys and need you to pay bank fees to be used to verify your identity and ownership before they can withdraw funds. And while law firms often work on referrals, a person who has offered to work with you but is only willing to engage with one particular law firm—especially one designated as a 'crypto recovery law firm,' should raise your suspicions. Due Diligence Measures If you've been a victim of a scam, and someone outside of the government reaches out to you to help you recover funds, you should assume they should not be trusted by default—every request should be verified. You should be cautious of law firms contacting you unexpectedly, especially if you have not reported the crime to any law enforcement or civil protection agencies. If in doubt, assume it's a scam. The fictitious law firms may also target victims who were previously scammed out of crypto. Be wary of advertisements for cryptocurrency recovery services. Research the advertised company and be cautious if it uses vague language, has a minimal online presence, or makes promises about recovering funds. Before you share any information, verify the person's legitimacy. Request information about credentials, including their law license (this information can be easily verified with your state bar association). If someone who purports to be a lawyer cannot or will not provide this information, assume they are not legitimate. You should also ask for verification of employment from anyone claiming to work for the U.S. Government or law enforcement. Contact your local office of the relevant government agency and request verification of the individual's identity with whom you are communicating. And finally, keep excellent records, including recordings of video chats of all interactions. Law Enforcement Remember that law enforcement does not charge victims a fee for investigating crimes. If someone claims an affiliation with the FBI, contact your local FBI field office to confirm. Additionally, the IC3 does not work with any non-law enforcement entity, such as law firms or crypto services, to recover lost funds or investigate cases. And, the IC3 will never directly contact you for information or money. If you are approached by someone impersonating or claiming to work with IC3 or find a website impersonating the IC3, consider filing a complaint with the information. Be sure to include the website link in your complaint. Reporting A Scam If you believe you have been a victim of a cryptocurrency scheme or other fraudulent scheme, please file a report with the FBI's IC3 at If possible, include the following: Information regarding how the individual initially contacted you and how they identified themselves. Include identifying information such as name, phone number, address, email address, and username. Financial transaction information such as the date, type of payment, amount, account numbers involved (including cryptocurrency addresses), the name and address of the receiving financial institution, and the receiving cryptocurrency addresses. Additionally, the FBI requests victims of fraudulent law firm scams, or those who suspect they may have been victimized, to report the suspicious activity to their local FBI field office and the FBI's IC3. Tax Rules For Losses While you may not be able to recover your losses, taxpayers who were tricked as a result of a traditional investment scam may be entitled to tax relief. Earlier this year, the IRS Office of Chief Counsel released a memo (Memorandum Number 202511015) providing clarification on the deductibility of theft losses for scam victims. Why was clarification needed? Casualty and theft losses have a long history in our tax system. In 1867, tax deductions were allowed for losses related to fire and shipwrecks. Three years later, the same year the Harpers Ferry Flood devastated parts of the Shenandoah, the definition was expanded to include floods. A few years later, the wording was changed to "storms." By the early 20th century, the deduction had changed again. In 1913, the first tax form under the new, modern tax system allowed a general deduction for "[l]osses actually sustained during the year incurred in trade or arising from fires, storms, or shipwreck, and not compensated for by insurance or otherwise." The definition was later expanded to include "other casualty, and from theft." However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) made another tweak: from 2018 to 2025, personal casualty and theft losses are deductible only to the extent that the losses are attributable to a federally declared disaster. (The One Big Beautiful Bill Act generally maintained the limits on losses, with one exception: it has been expanded to include state-declared disasters.) The memo stresses that the theft loss deduction is still available for businesses and individuals who incur losses in transactions entered into for profit. There is no statutory definition of "a transaction entered into for profit." However, courts have determined that to meet the criteria, a primary profit motive is required. Forbes IRS Issues Warnings On Tax Scams Driven By Bad Advice Often Found On Social Media By Kelly Phillips Erb Forbes How One Small Click Led To Big Headaches For A Tax And Accounting Firm By Kelly Phillips Erb Forbes Some Scam Victims May Be Able To Deduct Related Losses On Their Tax Returns By Kelly Phillips Erb
