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

Mexican American vocalist Gerardo Ortiz volition service 3 years of probation aft testifying against Ángel del Villar, main enforcement of Del Records, who national prosecutors linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

In March, Del Villar was recovered blameworthy of violating the Kingpin Act, a national instrumentality that prohibits U.S. residents and companies from doing concern with known cause traffickers and their associates. He was sentenced to 4 years successful national situation and fined $2 million. However, Del Villar remains escaped portion helium appeals his conviction.

Ortiz besides pleaded blameworthy to charges of conspiracy tied to the lawsuit and was sentenced to a probationary play of 3 years connected Nov. 19. He volition besides wage a fine, but the magnitude has not been confirmed, his publicist said successful an email to The Times.

“First of all, I privation to apologize to my fans for everything that’s happened,” said Ortiz. “We anticipation to support moving forward.”

Within that statement, the “Mañana Voy a Conquistarla” vocalist besides promoted his caller album, “El Ejemplar,” Spanish for “the exemplar,” which came retired a time aft his sentencing connected Nov. 20.

Federal tribunal filings against Del Villar day backmost to 2022, aft national authorities accused the statement mogul and his institution of doing concern with Jesús Pérez Alvear, a Guadalajara-based euphony promoter who besides went by the nickname “Chucho.”

The Treasury Department had antecedently sanctioned Pérez Alvear, who they said laundered cause wealth for CJNG and a related trafficking group, Los Cuinis.

In the aforesaid 2022 complaint, it was besides alleged that a “well-known musician,” present identified arsenic música Mexicana prima Ortiz, was approached by an FBI cause connected April 19, 2018, astatine the Phoenix airport. The authoritative informed the hitmaker of Pérez Alvear’s alleged transportation to transgression organizations successful Mexico and prohibited Ortiz from conducting aboriginal concern with him.

Despite the warning, Ortiz admitted to performing connected April 28, 2018, astatine Feria de San Marcos successful Aguascalientes, Mexico, which was organized by Pérez Alvear. Del Villar’s recognition paper was utilized to acquisition the flight.

“We were determination singing astatine that event; everyone saw it connected YouTube, they saw photos. For the fans who were determination that day, it was intolerable to accidental no. That amusement happened; we were determination successful Aguascalientes, and that’s all. I person thing much to say,” said Ortiz pursuing his sentencing. “Were determination lies? A batch of things person been said, but that’s the truth. We were determination singing astatine that concert, we were there, sharing a spot of our euphony with the audience.”

Prosecutors claimed that it was Del Villar who had persuaded Ortiz to disregard the FBI’s informing arsenic helium stood to nett disconnected the promoter’s showcases. On respective occasions successful 2018 and 2019, authorities said, Pérez Alvear and Del Villar continued to bash concern by arranging for Ortiz to execute astatine concerts crossed Mexico.

Pérez Alvear promoted concerts for Del Entertainment successful Mexico until March 2019. In December 2024, helium was gunned down successful a Mexico City restaurant.

Prior to this case, Del Records was astatine 1 constituent successful a feud with Ortiz, a Pasadena autochthonal who was erstwhile arrested successful Mexico connected a complaint of “criminal exaltation” for appearing successful a euphony video that portrayed the mistress of a cause lord being bound, gagged and stuffed successful the trunk of a car, which Ortiz past acceptable connected fire.

Ortiz and Del Villar sued each different successful 2019, trading accusations of fraud and different misconduct. When the FBI raided the label’s Bell Gardens offices successful 2020, a spokesperson claimed the agents were lone seeking records concerning Ortiz.

Times newsman Matthew Ormseth, Carlos de Loera and Brittny Mejia contributed to this report.