Kay Flock Sentenced to 30 Years: Complete Story of the Bronx Drill Rapper’s Rise, Arrest, Trial, and Prison Term

Bronx drill rapper Kay Flock (real name Kevin Perez) was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison on December 16, 2025, bringing a dramatic end to a promising music career that skyrocketed just before his 2021 arrest. The 22-year-old artist, known for hits like “Shake It” and “Being Honest,” faced federal racketeering charges tied to gang violence in his neighborhood. Here’s the full timeline and details of Kay Flock’s sentencing, trial, and background.

Who Is Kay Flock? Rise in the Drill Rap Scene

Born Kevin Perez on April 20, 2003, in the Bronx, New York, Kay Flock emerged as a standout in the city’s drill rap movement starting in 2020. Drill rap, characterized by aggressive beats and lyrics often referencing street rivalries and violence, propelled him to fame quickly.

• Breakthrough singles: “FTO,” “Opp Spotter” (feat. B-Lovee), “Brotherly Love” (feat. B-Lovee and Dougie B), and “PSA.”
• Debut mixtape: The D.O.A. Tape (2021), which garnered millions of streams.
• Major hits: Collaborations like “Not in the Mood” with Lil Tjay and “Shake It” featuring Cardi B, Dougie B, and Bory300.
• Recognition: Named Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Rookie of the Month in November 2021.

At his peak, Kay Flock was signed to a label and positioned as one of New York’s next big stars, with his music amassing hundreds of millions of views.

The Arrest and Initial Charges

Kay Flock’s career halted abruptly in December 2021 when he turned himself in to NYPD after allegedly shooting and killing 24-year-old Hwascar “Oscar” Hernandez outside a Harlem barbershop on December 16, 2021. Perez claimed self-defense, arguing Hernandez approached him aggressively.

• Initial charge: First-degree murder (state level).
• February 2023: Case moved to federal court with a RICO (Racketeering Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) indictment, alleging Perez was a leader in the Bronx gang “Sev Side/DOA” (also known as “Dead on Arrival”).
• Additional defendants: Seven others charged in the gang enterprise involving multiple shootings from 2020-2021.

Prosecutors claimed the gang’s activities included retaliatory shootings that injured rivals, bystanders, and resulted in deaths, terrorizing Bronx neighborhoods.

Trial and Verdict: March 2025

The federal trial began in March 2025 before U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman in Manhattan.

• Key outcome: Jury convicted Perez on:
  • Racketeering conspiracy.
  • Attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon in aid of racketeering.
  • Firearm discharge offense.
• Acquitted: On the most serious charge—murder in aid of racketeering (related to Hernandez’s death)—after accepting the self-defense claim.
• Evidence: Prosecutors used lyrics, social media posts, and witness testimony to argue Perez glorified and orchestrated violence to boost his rap persona.

Facing a possible life sentence (minimum 10 years), sentencing was delayed multiple times, finally set for December 16, 2025.

Kay Flock Sentencing: December 16, 2025 Details

In a packed Manhattan courtroom, Judge Liman sentenced Kevin Perez to 30 years in prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.

• Prosecutors’ request: 50 years, citing Perez’s leadership role, use of music to taunt rivals and glorify shootings, and lack of remorse (e.g., post-trial Instagram post “KILL ALL RATS” aimed at cooperators).
• Defense arguments: Requested the 10-year minimum, highlighting Perez’s youth, traumatic upbringing in a violent neighborhood (six friends killed before age 18), and an “intellectual disability” claim to dispute gang leadership (rejected by the judge).
• Judge’s remarks: Called Perez a “man of promise” with evolving brain at the time of crimes but emphasized the need for a lengthy sentence due to four shootings injuring multiple victims, creation of a “culture of violence,” and immense harm caused.
• Perez’s statement: “What I was at 18 is not what I am today… I was just a kid. Didn’t really know better.”

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton praised the sentence, stating it removes “violent, gun-toting gang leaders off our streets.”

Impact and Reactions

The Kay Flock sentence has sparked discussions in hip-hop about the intersection of street life, drill lyrics, and legal consequences. Fans expressed shock and support on social media, while critics noted how prosecutors used rap lyrics as evidence.

As of December 17, 2025, no public response from Kay Flock’s team beyond courtroom statements. Appeals are likely.

Stay tuned to ClickUsaNews.com for updates on Kay Flock news, hip-hop legal cases, and Bronx stories.

Published: December 17, 2025 | ClickUsaNews.com