by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, March 18 – A multi-defendant Bronx gang case began with the language of protective order and now a one-defendant trial involving the meaning of drill rap lyrics.
On March 23, 2023 U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Lewis J. Liman arraigned three of the defendants. Inner City Press went and covered it.
All three pleaded not guilty.
On July 31, as to lead and co-defendant Kevin Perez, the US Attorney's Office wrote in "to inform the Court that the Government will NOT week the death penalty against defendant Kevin Perez in this case."
On July 29, bail was denied, with video of deadly shooting - and money made from music the AUSA said was bragging about the shootings - cited.
Docketed on January 8, delay granted: "The Jury Trial is rescheduled to March 10, 2025."
On March 11, opening statements, police witnesses and cooperator Vance Brockington, commenting on music video of OYK. Thread and more on Substack here.
Docket photo on X for Subscribers here.
and on Patreon here
On March 12, before video of 4646 Park Avenue, the first cooperating witness was cross examined, thread. More on him on Patreon here.
On March 13, after testimony about defrauding of Arizona COVID unemployment, a second cooperator testified and was cross examined about the meaning of lyrics and murdering a 16 year old, more on X for Subscribers here
On March 14 the US put on a (former) NYC Parks Department staffer, more on Substack here.
On March 17, the defense case including the first cooperator's sister who said she saw his testimony on Inner City Press and concluded that he was lying. Then his manager, and former girlfriend - thread.
On March 18 Inner City Press tweeted the closing arguments of prosecutors and defense, which ended with it's been drill rap on trial.
More including analysis on X for Subscribers here and on Substack here
The overall case is USA v. Perez, et al., 1:23-cr-99 (Liman)
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