Overview
- On August 15, 2025, a federal court in Los Angeles sentenced José Ángel del Villar to four years in prison for violating the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act
- He must pay a $2 million personal fine while Del Records faces a $1.8 million penalty for enabling cartel-linked transactions
- Prosecutors presented testimony from Gerardo Ortiz and financial records showing del Villar arranged concerts with sanctioned promoter Jesús ‘Chucho’ Pérez Alvea to launder CJNG funds
- The sentencing concludes del Villar’s trial phase but co-defendant Luca Scalisi is scheduled for sentencing on October 22, 2025, after pleading guilty to related charges
- Separate U.S. Treasury sanctions this summer targeted other regional Mexican music figures, including promoter Ricardo Hernández Medrano, underlining ongoing enforcement of cartel money flows