American-born regional Mexican star Gerardo Ortiz is once again facing a decisive moment in his U.S. legal saga. On November 19, 2025, Ortiz was scheduled to appear before a federal court in Los Angeles for his sentencing after pleading guilty in May to a charge of "conspiracy to engage in transactions" with a company linked to the criminal organization Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG).
U.S. prosecutors allege that Ortiz participated in financial transactions associated with a concert-promoter company connected to the CJNG, raising alarms because the promoter in question, Gallística Diamante (also known as Ticket Premier), was designated in 2018 by the U.S. Treasury as a narcotics-trafficker front.
According to court records, Ortiz reached a plea agreement and agreed to cooperate with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in the investigation of his former manager, Ángel del Villar, CEO of Del Records. Ortiz's cooperation is believed to be a factor in potential leniency at sentencing.
Court filings note that despite being warned in April 2018 by federal agents of the promoter's sanctioned status, Ortiz allegedly still performed at events linked to the promoter's organization.
Earlier legal entanglements
Though the CJNG-linked case is the highest-profile U.S. prosecution for Ortiz, his legal troubles pre-date it. In 2019, he filed suit against Del Records for breach of contract, fraud, and underpaid royalties.
In May 2020, the FBI raided Del Records' Bell Gardens, California offices as part of an investigation into the label's business with cartel-linked promoter companies. The raid traced the inquiry to Ortiz's bookings with Gallística Diamante.
The core link: del Villar, Ortiz, and the promoter
The chain of events centers on del Villar's label, Ortiz's bookings, and the sanctioned promoter. On April 19, 2018, the FBI allegedly informed Ortiz he should stop performing at events linked to the promoter. Yet less than two weeks later a private-jet flight financed by del Villar took Ortiz from Van Nuys to a concert in Aguascalientes promoted by Gallística Diamante.
Del Villar was arrested June 14, 2022, on charges of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act (the Kingpin Act) by conducting business with a designated narcotics trafficker.
In March 2025, a federal jury found del Villar guilty of multiple violations of the Kingpin Act and one conspiracy count. He was sentenced in August 2025 to four years in prison.
Ortiz's plea in May 2025 acknowledges his role in the scheme and his cooperation with federal authorities. He is reported to have been booked for additional appearances in the U.S. following his sentencing date, suggesting he hopes to remain active in his career.
At the November 19 hearing, the judge (Maame Ewusi‑Mensah Frimpong) will determine Ortiz's sentencing, which may include probation, fines (he had posted a $10,000 bond after his plea) and possibly no prison time given his cooperation.
For the music industry, this case underscores the increased scrutiny on promoters, artists and labels whose events may be used to launder narco-proceeds. The settling of Ortiz's case, and the prosecution of his former label head, marks one of the more public intersections of regional Mexican music and cartel-financed entertainment in recent years.
Ortiz's future is uncertain. Though he has the backing of a cooperation deal, his career and reputation now hang in part on the sentence outcome. The case serves both as a caution and a turning point in the industry's dealings with high-risk promoters and events.
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