Regional Mexican music star Gerardo Ortiz is at the center of a federal investigation in the United States after admitting to participating in financial operations linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), one of Mexico’s most powerful and violent criminal organizations.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Ortiz used a series of live concerts in the U.S. in 2018 as a front to launder approximately $1.5 million—equivalent to around 30 million Mexican pesos. These performances were part of a scheme allegedly coordinated with his then-manager, José Ángel del Villar, founder and CEO of Del Records, a well-known label in the regional Mexican music scene.
Court documents reveal that the funds came from a concert promoter based in Guadalajara with direct ties to the CJNG. The shows in the U.S. provided a convenient cover to “clean” the illicit money, which was funneled through legitimate ticket sales and entertainment business operations.
Ortiz and Del Villar were reportedly warned by federal officials at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport about possible criminal implications. However, both proceeded with the tour, ignoring the alerts.
Now, as part of a plea agreement with U.S. prosecutors, Gerardo Ortiz has acknowledged his role and agreed to cooperate with authorities. He has provided detailed information about his former manager, a move that could potentially help him avoid prison time.
Meanwhile, Del Villar faces up to 78 months in federal prison—approximately six and a half years—and a $300,000 fine, according to prosecutors. The FBI in Los Angeles confirmed the charges, emphasizing that Del Villar violated the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act by knowingly maintaining ties with members of organized crime groups.
This is not the first time Ortiz’s name has been associated with drug cartels. The singer has previously been linked to “Los Chapitos,” the faction of the Sinaloa Cartel led by the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. In songs like Gente del Nini, Ortiz makes explicit references to cartel figures like Iván Archivaldo Guzmán and Néstor Isidro Pérez Salazar, a.k.a. El Nini, reinforcing his status as a central figure in the controversial genre of narcocorridos—ballads that often glorify the drug trade.
Parriva.com will continue following this developing story, including potential sentencing, legal fallout, and the implications for the regional Mexican music industry—where the line between entertainment and organized crime has long been a source of both cultural fascination and concern.
