Rapper Kay Flock Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Racketeering Case
Bronx drill rapper Kay Flock, born Kevin Perez, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in federal prison following his conviction in a sweeping racketeering case that prosecutors say tied his rising music career to a pattern of violent criminal activity across New York City.
The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman, who cited the scale of harm caused by Perez’s actions and his role in promoting what the court described as a “culture of violence.” Although Perez was acquitted earlier this year of a first-degree murder charge, the jury found him guilty on multiple serious federal counts, including racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, assault with a deadly weapon, and a firearm discharge offense.
Perez’s legal troubles stem from a federal indictment that followed the December 16, 2021, shooting death of Hwascar Hernandez in Upper Manhattan. While jurors ultimately cleared Perez of the murder charge connected to that incident, prosecutors successfully argued that his broader conduct, spanning several years, constituted organized criminal activity tied to gang operations in the Bronx.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Perez was a central figure in a Bronx-based gang known as “Sev Side,” also referred to as “DOA.” Prosecutors alleged the group engaged in retaliatory shootings, assaults, and other violent acts aimed at maintaining territory and intimidating rivals, while also committing financial crimes such as bank and wire fraud.
“Kevin Perez used violence and fame to fuel fear and intimidation across the Bronx,” U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton said in a statement following the sentencing. “Perez and his gang members carried out a string of shootings that struck both rival gang members and innocent bystanders.”
Prosecutors further alleged that Perez used his music as a vehicle to amplify threats and glorify violence, arguing that his lyrics and online presence taunted rivals and celebrated real-world acts of aggression. In court filings, the government pointed to several incidents for which Perez was held responsible, including attempted murders on June 26, 2020, August 10, 2020, and November 10, 2021.
Judge Liman echoed those concerns during sentencing, stating that Perez “taunted, celebrated, and created a culture of violence,” and that the consequences of his actions extended far beyond his immediate targets. “The harm was immense,” the judge said, according to court records.
Perez’s conviction and sentencing mark a dramatic fall for an artist who appeared poised for mainstream success. Kay Flock emerged as one of the most prominent voices in New York’s drill scene in the early 2020s, gaining traction through raw, aggressive tracks that mirrored the genre’s confrontational style.
His breakout song, “Shake It,” featuring Cardi B, was released in April 2022, four months after Perez was charged in the Hernandez killing. The collaboration brought him unprecedented exposure, but it arrived as his legal situation was rapidly deteriorating. Perez remained in custody as the song gained traction, highlighting the stark contrast between his growing fame and his looming criminal case.
Prosecutors alleged that funds generated through fraud and other illicit activities were used to support Perez’s music career, an argument that became central to the racketeering charges. The government maintained that Perez’s rise as a rapper and his alleged gang leadership were not separate paths, but intertwined.
The case adds to an ongoing national debate about the role of rap lyrics in criminal prosecutions and the extent to which artistic expression can be used as evidence of criminal intent. Federal prosecutors in this case repeatedly cited Perez’s music and online behavior as corroborating evidence, a strategy that civil liberties advocates have increasingly criticized.
