Two prominent leaders of a Los Angeles-based Latin music conglomerate have been arrested today by FBI agents on charges of conspiracy to infringe the Kingpin trademark on a foreign drug in connection with a concert promoter linked to Mexican drug cartels.
Angel Del Villar, CEO of Del Records and its affiliated talent agency Del Entertainment, and Luca Scalis, Del Entertainment’s CFO, filed a criminal complaint accusing them of “conspiracy to commit an action on the property of drug dealers specifically designated Kingpin.” ”
Both men were seen for the first time this afternoon in United States District Court in downtown Los Angeles. Del Villar was ordered on $100,000 bail and Scaliss on $35,000 bail. His trial was adjourned to 20 July.
Founded in 2009, locally-based Del Records describes itself as “the most successful independent Latin entertainment record label in regional Mexican music today.”
The complaint also included a third defendant: Jesús Pérez Alveari from Cuernavaca, Mexico, whose whereabouts are unknown. Pérez is a music promoter controlling Gallistica Diamante, also known as Ticket Premier, a Mexican music promotion business. In 2018, the U.S. Treasury Department named him and his company “Specially Designated Drug Smugglers” and claimed that he and Galistika Diamante were acting “on behalf of Mexican drug cartels” to promote drug trafficking, money laundering and an international organization. . Circle of prostitution.
According to the United States Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles, Pérez performed in Mexico for Del Entertainment until March 2019, despite his reputation as a “private drug dealer” that prevents people in the United States from doing business with him. himself and his company.
The complaint alleges that on April 19, 2018, FBI agents contacted a prominent musician, who in the complaint was only referred to as Individual A, and “explicitly told Person A about the appointment of Peres under the Kingpin Act and how he was prohibited from participating.” working. With concerts promoted by Pérez and Pérez”.
Regardless, on April 28, 2018, Individual A came out of the closet at a music concert presented by Pérez. According to the complaint, Del Villar’s credit card was used to pay for a private jet that took the musician from Van Nuys airport to a performance in Aguascalientes, Mexico.
Individual A performed in Mexico four more times in 2018 and 2019: Mexico, Salamanca, Chiapas and San José Iturbide, all popularized by Pérez. According to the US Attorney’s Office, “Individual A Del Villar acted with the knowledge or intent of Scalisi and Pérez.”
Convicted of violating the Kingpin Act, Del Villar and Scalis face up to 30 years in prison and Perez faces up to 10 years in prison.
Source: Deadline
Lloyd Grunewald is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. He is a talented writer who focuses on bringing the latest entertainment-related news to his readers. With a deep understanding of the entertainment industry and a passion for writing, Lloyd delivers engaging articles that keep his readers informed and entertained.
