Witness Pleads Guilty To Lying Under Oath At Federal Murder Trial

United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced that ASHANTI WASHINGTON, a/k/a "Shani Boni," pled guilty today before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky to committing perjury at the March 2025 federal criminal trial of United States v. Kevin Perez, in which Perez, who goes by the name "Kay Flock," was on trial for racketeering, murder, and firearm offenses. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge George B. Daniels.

"As she has now admitted, Ashanti Washington swore an oath to tell the truth while testifying in federal court, but then lied to smear a murder victim and help a gang leader try to escape accountability for his violent crimes," said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton. "Truth under oath is central to our system of justice, and this Office is committed to protecting it."

According to the Indictment, statements made in public filings, and public court filings:

On March 10, 2025, trial began in the matter of United States v. Kevin Perez, 23 Cr. 99 (LJL). At the trial, Perez faced charges of racketeering conspiracy, murder in aid of racketeering, attempted murder in aid of racketeering, and possession, use, brandish, and discharge of a firearm during and in relation to the attempted murder in aid of racketeering. On March 20, 2025, the jury returned guilty verdicts as to racketeering conspiracy, attempted murder, and the firearm discharge count, and returned a not guilty verdict with respect to the murder count. Perez was sentenced principally to 30 years in prison by the U.S. District Judge Lewis J. Liman.

On March 17 and 18, 2025, Washington testified at Perez's trial as a witness during the defense case and lied under oath about central facts relevant to the murder charges that Perez was facing. At trial, Perez claimed that he shot and killed the victim out of self-defense.

Washington, who was with Perez at the time of the killing, falsely testified that the murder victim had threatened to shoot and kill Perez. WASHINGTON's false testimony had an immediate and direct impact on evidentiary rulings in the trial.

As WASHINGTON has now admitted, the victim in fact never threatened to shoot or kill Perez.

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WASHINGTON, 24, of the Bronx, New York, pled guilty to one count of perjury at a federal criminal trial, which carries a maximum term of five years in prison.

The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the judge.

Mr. Clayton praised the work of the Department of Homeland Security - Homeland Security Investigations and the New York City Police Department.

This case is being handled by the Office's Violent Organizations and Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Herman, Patrick R. Moroney, and Ni Qian are in charge of the prosecution.