Embattled music executive José Ángel Del Villar, founder of the influential Del Records label, has been sentenced to 48 months in federal prison and fined $2 million after a federal jury found him guilty of violating the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act. U.S. District Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah handed down the sentence at a scheduled hearing where federal prosecutors had pushed for considerable prison time.
The case centered on Del Villar’s conspiracy to conduct business with concert promoter Jesús Pérez Alvear, who was sanctioned in 2018 for his alleged ties to Mexican drug cartels. Pérez, who was linked to the CJNG and Los Cuinis drug trafficking organizations, was murdered in Mexico in December 2024 after pleading guilty to conspiracy charges involving sanctioned individuals.
Del Entertainment, also convicted in the case, received three years of probation and a $1.8 million fine, considerably less than the potential maximum fine of $10 million. Prosecutors had originally sought approximately 6.5 years of imprisonment for Del Villar before the final sentence was delivered. The sentence was officially delivered on August 15, 2025 after months of legal proceedings. Luca Scalisi, Del Records’ chief financial officer, previously pleaded guilty to violating the same Act, which was designed to combat drug trafficking by targeting financial transactions.
Founded in 2009, Del Records specializes in regional Mexican music genres such as corrido and norteño. The company facilitated performances by artists in Mexico despite knowing about sanctions against Pérez, a decision that ultimately led to their legal troubles.
Several prominent political figures submitted letters of support for Del Villar prior to sentencing, highlighting his positive contributions to the music industry. However, the conviction has cast a shadow over his reputation and raised serious questions about ethics in the Latin music industry.
Prior to his legal troubles, Del Villar had built a multi-faceted business that included sync deals for artists, providing music for various film and television productions in both the U.S. and Mexico. Del Villar’s publishing division had established relationships with various collecting societies worldwide to ensure proper royalty collections for his artists’ compositions.
The case represents a considerable legal precedent for businesses with potential cartel connections, demonstrating the U.S. government’s commitment to enforcing the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act across industries. The sentencing reinforces the serious consequences that await those who engage in financial transactions with sanctioned individuals, regardless of their standing in the entertainment world or beyond.
