In May 2025, Julión Álvarez canceled a concert in Texas after being notified of the alleged revocation of his US visa. Eight years earlier, in 2017, the singer experienced a similar episode, albeit with more severe consequences: he was blacklisted by the US Treasury Department and identified as a front man for Raúl Flores Hernández, alias “El Tío,” a drug trafficking operator linked to the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG) and the Sinaloa Cartel. That was the first time Washington closed its doors to him.
The life of Julio César Álvarez Montelongo, his real name, was immediately impacted by this incident. The US government froze his bank accounts, revoked his visa, and prohibited US citizens or companies from doing business with him. His music was removed from digital platforms, and his performances in that country were canceled.
An Uncomfortable Businessman
The Treasury Department’s sanction targeted an alleged money laundering network operated by El Tío through at least 30 front companies located in Guadalajara, Zapopan, and other municipalities in Jalisco. Among them were music companies such as JCAM Editora Musical, Notyban Productions, and Ticket Boleto, with which, according to the investigation, Julión Álvarez allegedly had ties.
In a press conference, Álvarez stated: “Yes, I know him, but I don’t have any partnerships. There hasn’t been any support. With him, it’s like, ‘What’s up, dude?'” He also denied that El Tío had hired him for concerts and asserted that the only time they met was at a performance in Guadalajara.
