Is Roc Nation's Empire Coming To An End Under Desiree Perez?
- Aurora Coulange
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
Desiree Perez is the CEO of Roc Nation, the entertainment company co-owned by Jay-Z under the Live Nation umbrella. She has been a major figure in the music industry for years, but her life has been marked by serious legal issues and new family conflicts.
Under Desiree Perez, Roc Nation has become a diverse, global entertainment empire generating hundreds of millions in revenues and strategic partnerships. Her personal net worth reflects her influence in steering the company across music, sports, touring, and media—with continued growth ahead.
On January 20, 2021, President Donald Trump granted Perez a full pardon, officially clearing her record. The pardon acknowledged her past mistakes and praised her cooperation with law enforcement and contributions to criminal-justice reform
Back in the 1990s, Perez was arrested for trafficking around 35 kilos of cocaine. In 1994, federal authorities charged her with conspiracy to distribute cocaine, a crime that could have sent her to prison for decades. Instead, she agreed to cooperate as an informant for the DEA, wearing a wire in multiple undercover operations in Puerto Rico and Colombia to help build cases against others involved in drug trafficking. Prosecutors praised her cooperation, and she ended up serving 30 months in a boot camp-style program and five years on supervised release.
In 1998, Perez violated her parole when she fled to Brooklyn. She was caught again and charged with grand larceny, possession of a firearm, and having drug paraphernalia. She was sentenced to nine more months in jail and three additional years of supervision. Years later, in January 2021, President Donald Trump issued her a full pardon, clearing her record in recognition of her later work and cooperation with law enforcement.
In May 2025, Perez’s daughter, Demoree Hadley, filed a lawsuit in Miami-Dade County accusing her mother of serious misconduct. According to the lawsuit, Perez arranged to have Demoree wrongfully locked in a psychiatric hospital, using Florida’s Baker Act to claim she was suicidal and needed to be committed. Demoree says she tested negative for drugs, provided medical records proving she was not a danger to herself, and showed body camera footage from police visits that contradicted her mother’s claims. She also alleged that Perez used private investigators, hidden cameras, and media contacts like TMZ to damage her reputation and separate her from her husband, Javon Hadley.
In response, Perez filed a countersuit against Javon Hadley, claiming he was abusive and that she only acted to protect her daughter from serious harm. Perez has said she sincerely believed Demoree was at risk of self-harm and drug use. However, Miami-Dade prosecutors reviewed the case and issued an 11-page memo describing Perez’s accusations as “false and unsupported.”
The case has drawn significant public attention. Rapper Nicki Minaj publicly supported Demoree, calling out Roc Nation and accusing the company of using dirty tactics to control people. Media outlets, including NBC Miami, Soap Central, and Shockya, have reported extensively on the lawsuit, as well as Perez’s criminal history as a convicted drug trafficker who later became an informant.
Currently, both lawsuits are still moving through the court system in Miami. No new criminal charges have been filed against Perez—these are civil cases seeking damages and declarations. More hearings and evidence are expected later in 2025.
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