Rapper Kay Flock Sentenced to 30 Years in Federal Prison, Is His Career Over?

On December 16, 2025, Kay Flock was sentenced to 30 years in prison by U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman in Manhattan federal court.

The sentence also includes five years of supervised release.

Judge Liman criticized Kay Flock for glorifying violence and showing a lack of remorse, stating that he was responsible for four shootings and seven victims.

The judge also noted that Kay Flock had bragged on social media about his acquittal on the main charges and wrote "KILL ALL RATS" on Instagram after the trial, where several gang members testified against him.

Although Kay Flock was not directly involved in the shootings, Judge Liman emphasized that this did not diminish his culpability, as he was the gang leader and planned the attacks.

The prosecution initially sought a 50-year sentence, while the defense requested a mandatory minimum of 10 years.

The judge acknowledged that the crimes occurred while Kay Flock's brain was "still developing and maturing" and that six of his friends had died from gun violence before he turned 18.

In December 2021, Kay Flock surrendered to police in connection with the shooting death of 24-year-old Oscar Hernandez.

The tragic incident happened outside a barbershop in the Bronx on December 16, 2021.

Kay Flock initially faced state charges of first-degree murder.

Initial reports suggested that Kay Flock had been involved in an argument with the victim inside the barbershop before the shooting outside, but video footage showed him simply walking past the scene.

In February 2023, Kay Flock's case evolved into a broader federal indictment.

He and seven others were federally indicted on racketeering or RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act) charges.

They were accused of running the "Sev Side/DOA" gang operating in the Bronx, New York.

The RICO charges covered a series of violent crimes, including attempted murder and assault with a dangerous weapon, that occurred in seven shooting incidents in the Bronx between June 2020 and February 2022.

In March 2025, a jury found Kay Flock guilty of racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon in the commission of racketeering, and firearms violations.

Interestingly, he was acquitted of the racketeering murder charge directly related to the death of Oscar Hernandez.

Prosecutors argued that Kay Flock's music glorified gang activity and that he used violence to advance his music career.

The defense, on the other hand, argued that the initial 2021 shooting was an act of self-defense, highlighting Kay Flock's difficult childhood and the harmful influence of a dangerous neighborhood and older individuals.

Kay Flock's attorney also raised the controversial argument that his client's "intellectual disability" prevented him from becoming a gang leader, but this claim was rejected by the judge.

Kay Flock, born on April 20, 2003, is a rapper of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent from the Bronx, New York.

He began his music career in 2020 and quickly gained attention in the New York drill music scene.

His numerous singles, such as "Shake It" and "Is Ya Ready," catapulted him to fame in the music industry.

In November 2021, Billboard Magazine even named him R&B/Hip-Hop "Rookie of the Month" following the release of his debut album, "The D.O.A. Tape."