Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire trial has now featured its first witness with direct ties to the rapper: Kacey Jerome Hester, formerly known as OTF Jam, who was previously affiliated with Durk’s OTF crew.
On Wednesday (August 26), Hester, appearing nervous and speaking so softly that he was repeatedly asked to raise his voice, provided extensive testimony about OTF’s internal structure, which prosecutors describe as a “gang enterprise.”
The most significant part of his testimony involved allegations that Lil Durk arranged an August 2022 shooting aimed at his rap rival Quando Rondo. The Los Angeles shooting instead resulted in the death of Rondo’s cousin, Lul Pab, whose real name was Saviay’a Robinson.
During the third day of the trial, 34-year-old Hester took the witness stand Wednesday afternoon after being escorted into court by several U.S. Marshals. Durk’s co-defendant OTF Dede, whose real name is Deandre Wilson, watched Hester closely throughout his testimony, while Durk briefly looked toward the witness before mainly focusing on the monitors in front of him.
Authorities have identified Hester, Wilson, Keith Jones, David Brian Lindsey, and Asa Houston as individuals allegedly connected to the 2022 shooting, which happened at a Mobil gas station on Beverly Boulevard.
While on the stand, Hester identified himself in surveillance images from the scene and pointed out the red-and-white Prada shoes he was wearing during the incident. He also testified about his affiliation with the 300 Lamron faction of the Black Disciples street gang, saying he was “blessed in” at age 9.
Explaining the gang’s rules, including loyalty to leadership and willingness to sacrifice for “Nation’s causes,” Hester discussed why retaliation happens within gang culture.
“You don’t want to be looked at as no weak block,” he said. “People gonna prey on that.”
Hester also recalled meeting Durk in 2007, when the rapper was around 15 years old, and said Durk became affiliated with the Black Disciples after returning home from his first prison sentence. He identified several Chicago gang gestures, including “dropping the rakes,” a sign meant to disrespect the rival Gangster Disciples.
According to Hester, his relationship with Durk became stronger in 2012 while he was incarcerated. He testified that Durk gave $1,000 to help pay his attorney and regularly added money to his prison account. Hester was also mentioned on songs including “Times” and King Von’s “Back Again.”
“People forget about you [in prison],” Hester said. “I ain’t gon’ lie, Durk didn’t do that.”
During his testimony, Hester alternated between referring to Durk as “Blood” and using his real name. He later described Durk’s reaction after the death of King Von, who was killed outside an Atlanta hookah lounge by Lul Timm, born Timothy Leeks, during a confrontation involving Rondo in November 2020.
Hester testified that Durk was upset that people were not retaliating following Von’s death.
“He didn’t like that people were trolling him,” Hester recalled. “It was getting to him.”
Hester also described an alleged conversation about targeting Rondo that he said happened inside an Atlanta studio.
“If motherfuckers catch Quando Rondo or Lul Timm, they gon’ be straight. They ain’t gotta worry about nothing,” Durk allegedly said, according to Hester.
The witness claimed he was contacted by OTF Boonie Moe on the morning of August 18 and later traveled to San Diego with OTF Boogie, whose real name is Asa Houston. Hester said Durk was on another phone call with Boonie at the time but eventually spoke directly with him.
“You could tell there was something going on but he wasn’t giving it to me,” Hester testified.
Hester said that when he attempted to call Durk himself, the rapper did not answer because he allegedly did not want people traveling to Los Angeles to contact him. Another person, William Malcolm, was reportedly supposed to join the trip but could not locate his ID before the flight. Prosecutors said the travel arrangements were handled by Durk’s business associate, Jason Smith.
After arriving in San Diego, Hester said he and Houston learned the purpose of the trip was allegedly to kill Quando Rondo.
“I’m just like, ‘Damn, I’m here now,’” Hester said. “I [don’t] have no way to get out of this.”
He also described feeling uneasy because he and Von were not close enough for the conflict with Rondo to feel personal.
Hester testified that after arriving, the group traveled in a Sprinter van to Walmart to purchase hoodies and gloves they planned to use during the shooting. They were then taken to a car lot believed to be VEM Exotics, where Durk’s former assistant OTF Vonnie, whose real name is Kavon Grant, allegedly told them there was a problem: only three guns were available.
Later that night, Hester said the group waited outside Rondo’s location at Level Hotel, positioned in separate vehicles, including a BMW and Infiniti. He claimed rapper Doodie Lo arranged for a dispensary worker to tell Rondo that a delivery was arriving, with the plan being to shoot him once he came outside. However, police vehicles repeatedly passing through the area made the location too “hot.”
Hester alleged that Wilson was armed with a Beretta pistol while sitting in the driver’s seat of the BMW.
“Boy, they easy,” Hester recalled Wilson saying. “I could really fuck them up right now.”
If convicted on all charges, including conspiracy and firearm-related offenses, Durk could face life in prison. Hester’s testimony is expected to continue Thursday, with Kavon Grant and Asa Houston also expected to testify.
