by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
SDNY COURTHOUSE, June 26 – Two days after the mixed jury verdict in US v. Kevin Perez, the Bronx-based drill rapper known as Kay Flock, a book was published about the trial, "Courthouse Rap." On Amazon here.
Two weeks later, Kay Flock's lawyer filed a motion for acquittal, including arguing that "The individual in the 4646 Park Avenue Surveillance footage wearing a blue jacket was not Mr. Perez; The assailant in the RPT shooting was the individual wearing a blue jacket in the [4]6[4]6 Park Avenue surveillance footage; There is no evidence in the record, however, which would lead a rational juror to reasonably infer that Defendant brandished or discharged a firearm in connection with the RPT Shooting." Full filing on Patreon here.
On April 17, the US Attorney's Office opposed the motion: " The Court properly instructed the jury on those theories, and the evidence overwhelmingly supported Perez’s guilt on both counts. Accordingly, the Motion should be denied" - full US filing here.
On June 25, with the motion still not ruled on, the US Attorney's Office wrote it to Judge Liman that it had gotten a grand jury indictment of defense witness Ashanti Washington after finding her DNA on the gun - and charging perjury. Will the new case, assigned to Judge George B. Daniels, be consolidated with Perez' before Judge Liman?
On June 26, Judge Daniels set an arraignment: "SCHEDULING ORDER as to Ashanti Washington: An arraignment and initial conference for this case is hereby scheduled for July 16, 2025 at 9:30 a.m. (Signed by Judge George B. Daniels on 6/26/2025)."
The new case is USA v. Washington, 1:25-cr-287 (Daniels)
For now, the book compares this 2025 trial to the previous trial involving Tekashi 6ix9ine as a cooperating witness, before U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Paul A. Engelmayer. Inner City Press covered both cases, as it is covering that of Sean Combs and others. The book begins:
In outlaw music there is always the question of authenticity. Daniel Hernandez became Tekashi 6ix9ine and hooked up with the Nine Trey Gangsta Bloods to shoot a video. Then he became their cash cow, and some of them became his muscle, shoot-out in a Barclay's Center hallway.
They turned on Tekashi and he became a cooperator against them, returning to SDNY on violations of supervised release then back out on the concert tour. [And now back in SDNY later in April]
For drill rapper Kay Flock it was different. He really was from Sev Side, 187th Street. He wasn't an appendage to his group: he was central to it. When with seven he was indicted, he did not cooperate. He took it to trial.
Now this.
Book and audiobook on Amazon here
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