Under the pulsing neon lights of Miami’s famed nightlife, rising Bronx drill rapper DThang Gz real name Demario Montez Thomas was arrested on June 30, 2025, for possession of a firearm as a convicted felon. The 23-year-old artist was taken into custody by Miami law enforcement and later released from Miami-Dade County jail after posting a $15,000 bond, lowered from the initial $25,000 proposal.
A now-viral courtroom video shows DThang clad in a grey hoodie and handcuffs standing silently as prosecutors recounted his criminal past. “This is not his first firearm offense,” one prosecutor stated. “He poses a serious risk of reoffending.” Despite the prosecution’s objections, the judge granted bond, sparking heated discussions across social media platforms.
DThang can be considered one of the key artists of Bronx drill, an unpolished hip-hop subgenre based on street stories that characterize aggressive beats and rhymes that mirror in-life tensions. He can be linked to the River Park Towers (RPT) gang and to the Young Gunners (YGz) gang. He rose to fame with hits “Talk Facts” and “Caution.”
Yet with success in music has come a string of courtroom proceedings. He was one of 34 individuals to be charged in an enormous 65-count gang crackdown that included attempted killing, conspiracy, and even animal cruelty in 2022. He was freed from prison in January of 2024 but faces possible time in prison for his most recent detainment of June 30.
DThang’s recent possession of a firearm or ammunition while being a convicted felon constitutes a second-degree felony in Florida. It’s also a federal crime under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), which outlaws possession of firearms for felons and has a penalty of up to 10 years in prison.
Florida’s firearm laws are among the strictest in the country. As per the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), repeat offenders may face mandatory minimum sentences, especially if the felon has a history of violent crimes. Some legal analysts have criticized the $15,000 bond as unusually low, especially when compared to jurisdictions like Los Angeles, where similar charges often carry a $20,000 bail.
Public response has been sharply divided. On X, fans launched a “#FreeDThang” campaign, arguing the rapper is being unfairly targeted because of his music and past. One user wrote,
“They love to jail our stars while letting real threats walk free.”
Another countered,
“If he keeps getting caught with guns, that’s not targeting that’s choices.”
Social commentary has also reignited the debate over drill music’s impact on urban violence. Critics argue the genre glorifies gang activity. Supporters, however, say it provides a voice for marginalized youth. New York’s 2022 “Rap Lyrics on Trial” bill, which limits the use of lyrics as courtroom evidence, was designed to protect artists like DThang, but prosecutors are still watching closely.
Thang’s arrest also suggests larger trends. Miami has witnessed a significant spike in arrests for firearms possessions, particularly for summer visitors from out of state. New York City also witnessed a 160% rise in pandemic-era gun violence that prompted officials to clamp down hard on firearms and drill music-associated violence.
As of July 1, 2025, lawyers for DThang have yet to issue any public statement, nor has a trial date been scheduled. He was spotted networking in Miami among Miami drill artists like D30 before his arrest. Only time will determine whether his liberty will yet maintain its status or if this was once again a detour in his rocky life.
“Drill gave me an exit strategy, but they just keep dragging me back in,”
DThang once told an old Instagram Live statements that now resound louder than before.
