Huntington Beach, CA – José Ángel Del Villar, 45, CEO of Del Records and Del Entertainment Inc., was sentenced to four years in federal prison for his involvement with a concert promoter in Mexico who had ties to powerful drug cartels.
Details of the Case
Del Villar was convicted in March on 10 counts related to violations of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act and a further count of conspiracy for transacting with property connected to specially designated narcotics traffickers. Along with his prison sentence, he was also fined $2 million.
The music executive, through his company Del Entertainment, worked closely with Jesús Pérez Alvear, aka “Chucho”, a concert promoter from Guadalajara, Mexico. Between 2018 and 2019, Pérez and his company, Gallistica Diamante (Ticket Premier), facilitated money laundering for the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and the Los Cuinis drug trafficking organization.
Del Villar’s Role in the Scheme
Del Villar and his company continued to do business with Pérez, despite being aware that such dealings were illegal due to Pérez’s cartel ties.
The U.S. Department of Justice stated, as per KTLA, that Del Villar’s company held concerts where Del Entertainment musical artists performed, despite the financial involvement of Pérez, who had a financial interest in the events. This made the dealings a direct violation of the Kingpin Act.
The Dangers of Cartel Connections
This case highlights the far-reaching consequences of drug cartels’ influence on legitimate businesses. Money laundering operations like the one orchestrated by Pérez allow illicit drug trade profits to flow through legitimate channels, enabling cartels to expand their operations and strengthen their criminal networks.
The CJNG is one of the most dangerous and violent cartels globally, involved in various illegal activities beyond drug trafficking, including extortion and murder.
The Kingpin Act and Its Importance
The Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (Kingpin Act) is a critical tool in the fight against international drug trafficking. The act designates individuals and entities involved in significant narcotics trafficking activities as drug kingpins, prohibiting U.S. citizens from conducting business with them. Violations of this act carry severe penalties, as demonstrated by Del Villar’s conviction.
Sentencing of Co-defendant and Pérez’s Murder
In addition to Del Villar, Luca Scalisi, 59, of West Hollywood, pleaded guilty in May to conspiracy charges for violating the Kingpin Act and is scheduled for sentencing on October 22.
Pérez, who was central to the case, was murdered in Mexico in December under still-unclear circumstances, highlighting the dangerous and volatile nature of cartel operations.
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