What are the charges against Kay Flock? Rapper found guilty in gang RICO case

Rapper Kevin Perez, also known as Kay Flock, has been found guilty of multiple charges related to gang activity and violent crimes. A Federal Jury in Manhattan delivered the verdict after the trial where his prosecutors accused him of being an important part of the Sev Side/ DOA gang (a faction of the Bloods operating in the Bronx).

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Convictions and Charges

After a 10-day trial, Kay Flock was convicted on the charges of:

• Racketeering conspiracy
• Use of a firearm resulting in death
• Attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon in aid of racketeering
• Use of a firearm for attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon

However, he was acquitted of murder in aid of racketeering, a charge from the December 2021 killing of 24-year-old Hwascar Hernandez in Harlem.

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Details of the case

Prosecutors claimed that Kay, alongside other associates participated in violent gang-related shootings. Evidence presented at trial revealed he not only engaged in the attacks but also used music and social media to promote violence, glorify gang culture, and intimidate enemies.

The charge of death by firearm use is linked to the Hernandez shooting in 2021. The prosecution alleged it to be gang-related, while the defense countered with self-defense. The jury found him guilty on some charges, and the respondent was acquitted of murder in the aid of racketeering but still convicted him on gun-related charges.

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The Verdict

Acting U.S. Attorney Matthew Padolsky, in his statement on the conviction of Kay Flock stated that:

“Kevin Perez, a/k/a “Kay Flock,” was the leader of a neighborhood street gang known as Sev Side / DOA, and with that gang, he committed a series of gang-motivated shootings.

He further stated:

Perez, a drill rapper, instilled fear across the community with his violent actions, and then threatened rivals, bragged about shootings, and taunted victims in his rap lyrics. But as a unanimous jury has now found, Perez can no longer hide behind his music, and instead will be held to account for his violent crimes.

He concluded the statement by saying:

Thanks to the hard work of the career prosecutors of this Office and our law enforcement partners, the cycle of violence that Perez engaged in is over. This Office remains resolute in its commitment to prosecuting gang members who sow fear and spread violence on our city streets.”

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The Drill music scene

Kay Flock became famous in 2021 with "Being Honest" and collaborations with prominent artists. His arrest and conviction now highlight the increased scrutiny drill rap is facing, as the cops frequently associate the genre with gang violence.

Drill music has been criticized by New York Mayor Eric Adams for promoting street violence, which has now raised questions about whether the music genre is being targeted unfairly.

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What's next?

Flock's sentence hearing is scheduled for July 16, 2025.

For now, the case serves as a cautionary tale about the intersection of music, crime, and the justice system.

So, what do you think about it? Is the Drill music scene being wrongly linked to gang violence? Or is Drill music just a part of the freedom of expression?

Let us know in the comments below.