Kacey “OTF Jam” Hester has been confirmed as a cooperating witness for the federal government as Lil Durk’s murder-for-hire trial gets underway in Los Angeles.

During opening statements, prosecutors revealed that Hester is among three alleged co-conspirators who have pleaded guilty and are expected to testify for the government against Durk. The other two cooperating witnesses identified are Kavon “OTF Vonni” Grant and Keith “Flacka” Jones.

The revelation could become a major part of the prosecution’s case as jurors hear competing accounts of who was responsible for the alleged 2022 plot targeting rapper Quando Rondo.

Federal prosecutors allege Durk, whose legal name is Durk Banks, orchestrated and financed a murder-for-hire plot against Rondo following the November 2020 killing of Durk’s close friend and fellow Chicago rapper King Von. The alleged plot culminated in an August 2022 shooting near the Beverly Center in Los Angeles that left Rondo’s cousin, Saviay’a Robinson, dead. Rondo survived.

Durk has pleaded not guilty, and his attorneys are presenting a sharply different version of events.

During opening statements, the defense placed significant responsibility on Grant, Durk’s former personal assistant, arguing that Grant handled key logistics surrounding the Los Angeles trip, including hotel arrangements, vehicles and the purchase of ski masks. The defense maintained that Durk was not involved in the alleged murder plot.

The expected testimony from Hester, Grant and Jones now sets up a potentially critical battle over credibility. Prosecutors are expected to use the cooperating witnesses to support their allegations against Durk, while the defense has already signaled that it intends to challenge the government's version of events and the motives of witnesses who entered guilty pleas.

At this stage of the trial, the allegations against Durk remain allegations, and prosecutors will have to prove their case to the jury. Durk continues to deny the charges against him as testimony in the federal trial moves forward.