Judge Crushes Disability Defense, Slams Kay Flock With 30 Years—‘Culture Of Violence’ Cited At Sentencing

Bronx drill rapper Kevin Perez, known as Kay Flock, was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on December 16, 2025, for leading a violent gang while building a rising music career. The case highlights the intersection of street crime and artistic ambition in New York City’s drill rap scene.

Gang Leadership and Violent Crime Spree

Perez, 22, headed “Sev Side/DOA” (Dumping on Anything), a gang operating from East 187th Street in the Bronx. From June 2020 to November 2021, he directed a series of shootings against rivals and bystanders, spanning 18 months and injuring multiple victims. Prosecutors linked these attacks directly to Perez’s actions, even as he advanced in the music industry.

March 2025 Jury Conviction

A federal jury convicted Perez after a two-week trial in March 2025 on racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering, and firearm discharge charges. Jurors cleared him of murder in the December 2021 death of Hwascar Hernandez, citing self-defense arguments.

The Intellectual Disability Defense Strategy

Defense attorney Michael Ashley sought the mandatory minimum 10-year term, claiming Perez’s intellectual disability barred him from gang leadership. Ashley argued cognitive limits impaired Perez’s decision-making and that a fellow member actually managed operations.

Judge Rejects Cognitive Impairment Claims

U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman dismissed the defense, pointing to Perez’s music achievements as evidence of capability. Perez had negotiated contracts, produced content, and grown a large audience in a cutthroat industry. Prosecutors labeled the claim a bid to avoid responsibility.

Music Success and Celebrated Violence

In November 2021, Billboard named Perez R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month for his debut “The D.O.A. Tape.” His April 2022 single “Shake It,” featuring Cardi B and Dougie B, drew widespread notice, with tracks amassing millions of views. Yet prosecutors showed Perez released videos glorifying shootings soon after incidents, like one days after a June 20, 2020, attack wounding a rival in the jaw and others. The gang funded itself via bank and wire fraud, which supported Perez’s career. Songs taunted victims and threatened more violence, blending art with crime.

Post-Verdict Behavior and Sentencing

Prosecutors requested 50 years, matching probation guidelines, stressing Perez’s use of fame to instill fear. After conviction, Perez posted on Instagram celebrating the murder acquittal, claiming he made the judge cry, and wrote “KILL ALL RATS,” seen as a threat to a witness. At sentencing, in a gray suit and shackles, Perez said, “What I was at 18 is not what I am today. This period has made me wiser.” He noted supporting his family from age 12 and claimed a religious conversion: “I believe I needed to traverse through darkness to discover the light.” Liman rebuked him: “You taunted, you celebrated and you helped create a cycle of violence,” citing no remorse and immense harm. Mitigating youth—brain development into the mid-20s—and six friends killed by guns before age 18 factored in but did not reduce the term.

Drill Rap Prosecution Debates

The ruling fuels arguments over drill rap evidence. New York prosecutors increasingly use lyrics and videos to prove gang ties, though critics say it unfairly targets young Black and Latino artists, blurring art and confession. Here, direct links—timely releases referencing specific shootings—bolstered the case.

Career-Ending Sentence Imposed

Liman settled on 30 years plus five years supervised release, positioning Perez for release at 52. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said Perez used violence and fame to fuel fear and intimidation across the Bronx, carrying out shootings that struck both rival gang members and innocent bystanders. At the time of Perez’s March 2025 conviction, Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Podolsky noted the cycle of violence had ended. The outcome warns drill artists that professional gains from real crimes invite severe accountability, potentially reshaping how violence is portrayed in music.