Ángel del Villar, Gerardo Ortiz’s Former Manager Linked to Business With the CJNG, Was Sentenced to Four Years in Prison

Del Villar was charged in the US with conducting business with a concert promoter linked to this criminal organization.

José Ángel del Villar, producer and CEO of the record label Del Entertainment, was sentenced in the United States to four years in prison for conducting business with a concert promoter with ties to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Gerardo Ortiz’s former manager violated the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, for which U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah also fined him $2 million.

The judge also fined the company $1.8 million, as the money was used in a business scheme involving criminal organizations.

After the trial concluded last March, where the jury heard evidence—including Gerardo Ortiz’s testimony about being deceived by Del Villar—he was found guilty of conducting business with Jesús Pérez Alvear’s Gallística Diamante company, which was sanctioned by the Treasury Department for facilitating money laundering for the CJNG and its financial arm, Los Cuinis.

According to court documents, in April 2018, Ángel del Villar negotiated with promoter Jesús Pérez Alvear, alias “Chuco,” originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, who promoted concerts for Del Entertainment in Mexico until March 2019.

However, on April 6, 2018, the U.S. Department of the Treasury sanctioned Pérez Alvear and his company under the Kingpin Act, concluding that they facilitated money laundering for the CJNG and Los Cuinis, which prevents U.S. citizens from doing business with them.

Authorities allege that del Villar and his company knew it was illegal to engage in business with the promoter but decided to do so, which included a series of performances by Gerardo Ortiz.

The Department of Justice stated that FBI agents approached the musician in April 2018 to warn him about the designation. However, days later, he performed at a concert organized by Pérez in Aguascalientes, where the promoter’s credit card was used to pay for his private jet.

Both Pérez and del Villar are accused of continuing to negotiate in 2018 and 2019 for the singer to perform concerts in other parts of Mexico.

Jesús Pérez was murdered in December 2024 at a restaurant inside Plaza Miyana in the Polanco area of Mexico City.

Meanwhile, Gerardo Ortiz pleaded guilty to performing concerts for the CJNG, posted bail and testified against Angel del Villar. According to reports, he is reportedly collaborating with the FBI to provide information in investigations.

Sources: Infobae, Cartel Insider