José Ángel Del Villar was sentenced to four years in prison for illegally working with a cartel-linked concert promoter despite knowing the legal consequences.
José Ángel Del Villar was sentenced to four years in federal prison and fined $2 million Friday (August 15) after federal prosecutors said he knowingly worked with a concert promoter connected to two of Mexico’s most dangerous drug cartels.
The 45-year-old CEO of Del Records and Del Entertainment Inc. was convicted in March on 10 counts of violating the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act and one count of conspiracy to transact in property belonging to specially designated narcotics traffickers. His company was also hit with a $1.8 million fine and sentenced to three years of probation, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The case centers on Del Villar’s business dealings with Jesús Pérez Alvear, a Mexican concert promoter whose company Gallistica Diamante, also known as Ticket Premier, was blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department. According to prosecutors, Pérez and his business “facilitated money laundering for the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and the Los Cuinis drug trafficking organization.”
“Even though Del Villar and Del Entertainment were aware that it was illegal to engage in transactions or dealings with Pérez, they willfully did business with him by continuing to have a Del Entertainment musical artist perform at concerts in which Pérez and Del Entertainment had a financial interest,” prosecutors said.
Pérez was killed in Mexico in December 2024, months before Del Villar’s sentencing.
Co-defendant Luca Scalis of West Hollywood pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to transact in property of specially designated narcotics traffickers. He’s scheduled to be sentenced October 22.
Mexican drug cartels like CJNG and Los Cuinis are considered among the most violent and powerful criminal organizations in the world. Known for their brutal enforcement tactics and global drug trafficking operations, these groups often use legitimate businesses—like concert promotions—to launder illicit profits. Their influence stretches across borders, making them a top priority for U.S. and international law enforcement.
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