Gerardo Ortiz to serve 3 years probation for cartel-linked performances

by

Singer Gerardo Ortiz, who is Mexican American, will be on probation for three years after helping prosecutors with their case against Ángel del Villar. Villar, the head of Del Records, was connected by prosecutors to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

Del Villar was convicted in March of breaking the Kingpin Act, a law that prevents people and businesses in the U.S. from working with drug traffickers or those connected to them. He received a four-year prison sentence and a $2 million fine, but is currently out of jail while he appeals the verdict.

Ortiz admitted guilt to conspiracy charges related to the case and received a three-year probation sentence on November 19th. He’s also required to pay a fine, the exact amount of which is still being determined, according to his spokesperson.

Ortiz began by apologizing to his fans for the recent issues, and expressed hope for a positive path forward.

In the same statement, the singer of “Mañana Voy a Conquistarla” also announced his new album, “El Ejemplar,” which means “the exemplar” in English. The album was released a day after he was sentenced on November 20th.

Court documents show that legal issues for Del Villar began in 2022 when federal authorities alleged he and his company worked with Jesús Pérez Alvear, a music promoter from Guadalajara known as “Chucho.”

The Treasury Department had already imposed sanctions on Pérez Alvear, accusing him of laundering money from drug trafficking for the CJNG cartel and its associated group, Los Cuinis.

The 2022 complaint also stated that FBI agents approached popular música Mexicana singer Natanael Cano (then identified only as a “well-known musician”) at the Phoenix airport on April 19, 2018. An agent reportedly told Cano that businessman Pérez Alvear was believed to have ties to criminal groups in Mexico and warned him not to do business with Alvear anymore.

Even after being warned not to, Ortiz performed at the Feria de San Marcos in Aguascalientes, Mexico on April 28, 2018. The event was organized by Pérez Alvear, and the flight was paid for with a credit card belonging to Del Villar.

Following his sentencing, Ortiz stated that they performed at the event, and evidence like videos and photos on YouTube prove it. He emphasized that fans who attended would confirm it was impossible to refuse the performance. He simply confirmed they were in Aguascalientes and performed, adding that while many things were said, his account was the truth: they were there, sharing their music with the audience.

Prosecutors argued that Del Villar convinced Ortiz to disregard the FBI’s warning because he financially benefited from the promoter’s events. They stated that in 2018 and 2019, Pérez Alvear and Del Villar continued working together, booking Ortiz for concerts throughout Mexico.

Until March 2019, Pérez Alvear organized concerts for Del Entertainment in Mexico. He was later fatally shot in a Mexico City restaurant in December 2024.

Before this incident, Del Records had a past conflict with Ortiz, a musician from Pasadena. Ortiz was previously arrested in Mexico for a controversial music video. The video depicted a woman, meant to represent a drug lord’s mistress, being kidnapped and seemingly set on fire in a car trunk – an act authorities termed “criminal exaltation.”

In 2019, Ortiz and Del Villar filed lawsuits against each other, each claiming the other had committed fraud and acted improperly. The following year, when the FBI searched the label’s offices in Bell Gardens, a spokesperson stated that agents were only looking for information related to Ortiz.

Read More

2025-11-27 01:31