Gerardo Ortiz Avoids Prison; Sentenced To 3 Years Of Probation After Testifying Against His Former Manager

The concerts Gerardo Ortiz performed were through his then-label, Del Records, which was linked to the criminal organization led by El Mencho.

The information was revealed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office at the start of the trial against Angel del Villar, CEO of Del Records.

Gerardo Ortiz, the famous narco corrido singer, avoided prison after the United States accused him of conducting financial transactions with a company linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

Judge Maame Ewusi Frimpong determined that the artist will remain on supervised release for three years, following the joint recommendation issued by Ortiz’s defense and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

What happened during the hearing?

Mark Werksman, Gerardo Ortiz’s lawyer, asserted that his client performed a series of concerts in 2018 with the Mexican company Gallística Diamante, owned by Jesús Pérez Alvear, a money launderer for the CJNG cartel, only because it was controlled by José Angel del Villar, who was Ortiz’s manager at the time.

These concerts led to Ortiz and Del Villar being accused of having financial ties to a company linked to a drug trafficking network, along with Jesús Pérez Alvear, the financial head of Del Records, the record label where Del Villar was CEO, and the firm Del Entertainment.

“Because of his cooperation, he is having a difficult time booking concerts in Mexico (…) due to his cooperation against his former manager and producer, José Angel del Villar,” said Mark Werksman, the singer’s lawyer. “Mr. Ortiz put himself at great risk and in danger of personal harm by testifying against his former manager. This was an individual with interests aligned with the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.” What do we know about the accusations against Gerardo Ortiz?

Information from Ángel Hernández for MILENIO indicates that the concerts Gerardo Ortiz gave were through his then-label, Del Records, whose CEO was José Ángel del Villar, who was arrested and charged with conducting financial transactions with an entity designated as a narcotics trafficker.

Along with Del Villar, his financial head, Luca Scalisi, Jesús Pérez Alvear himself, and the company Del Entertainment, which includes Del Records, were also charged.

However, in Gerardo Ortiz’s specific case, the singer was prosecuted in a separate case, charged, and placed under house arrest on May 28, two months after he testified in the trial of his former manager, Del Villar.

It’s worth remembering that during that trial, the singer accused his former manager of leading the conspiracy to do business with an individual linked to the CJNG cartel.

Gerardo Ortiz pleaded guilty to a charge similar to those brought against Del Villar, Scalisi, Pérez Alvear, and Del Entertainment; however, the singer had already negotiated a plea agreement with the United States, which included a reduced sentence for cooperating in the criminal case.

Who is Gerardo Ortiz?

Gerardo Ortiz Medina is an American singer born on October 5, 1989, in Pasadena, California. He is the son of Antonio Ortiz and Cecilia Medina and has one son.

Despite being born in the United States, the singer moved to the municipality of Culiacán as a child, which is why he is also nicknamed “El Hijo de Sinaloa” (The Son of Sinaloa).

Among his most famous relationships are those with Alejandra Pinzón, Ivonne Beltrán, and Eiza Osuna Gutiérrez, to whom he was reportedly married.

According to his Apple Music profile, he moved to Mexico at the age of eight and began his music career there. At that age, the singer released a regional Mexican album titled Encuentro de Amor (Encounter of Love).

At 13, he was selected to participate in Código F.A.M.A., a children’s program produced by Televisa, where he won second place.

In 2010, he received a Grammy Award nomination.

In 2011, he released his second live album.

In 2013, he won four Billboard Mexican Music Awards.

“Gerardo Ortiz is one of the most influential figures in Mexican music and one of the leading creators of narco ballads, as well as a great balladeer,” Apple Music noted.

Sources: Milenio, Cartel Insider Archives