California-based execs of Latin music company are arrested for business ties to Mexico-based concert promoter linked to powerful drug cartels

A California-based Latin music company CEO and an associate are being accused of engaging in business transactions with a Mexican-based concert promoter who has ties to drug cartels in Mexico. 

Ángel del Villar, 41, owner of Del Records and talent agency Del Entertainment, and Luca Scalisi, 56, the chief financial officer of Del Entertainment, were taken into custody Wednesday morning.

Del Villar, of Huntington Beach, and Scalisi, of West Hollywood, appeared before a judge at the United States District court in Los Angeles the same day and were informed of their charges of conspiring to violate the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act.

Del Villar was released on a $100,000 bond while Scalisi was released on a $35,000 bond. Both men are due back in court July 20 for their arraignments.

DailyMail.com has reached out to del Villar for comment. 

A third individual identified as Jesús Pérez, 37, of Morelos, Mexico, was also named in the criminal complaint. Federal investigators believe he may be in Mexico.

Pérez was designated as a narcotics trafficker for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and Los Cuinis Drug Trafficking Organization by the Department of Treasury in April 2018.

He was accused of laundering the cartels’ drug sale profits by promoting concerts in Mexico under his company Gallistica Diamante in exchange for protection.

Prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney’s Office Central District of California said Pérez  promoted concerts for Del Entertainment until March 2019.

According to the complaint, the FBI agents approached a popular Mexican Regional musician identified as Individual A on April 19, 2018 and advised him about not doing business with Pérez at concerts that he promoted because he was designated under the Kingpin Act.

However, Individual A disregarded the FBI’s warning and performed at a concert organized by Pérez on April 28, 2018. 

Prosecutors found that del Villar’s credit card was used to book a private jet that transported the musician from Van Nuys Airport to the concert in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

The singer went on to perform at four other concerts in 2018 and 2019 that were promoted by Pérez in the Mexican cities of Mexicali, Salamanca, Chiapas and San Jose Iturbide.

‘Individual A acted at the direction or with the knowledge of Del Villar, Scalisi and Perez,’ the Department of Justice said.

Del Villar and Scalisi could face the maximum sentence of 30 years in prison if they are found guilty of violating the Kingpin Act.   

Meanwhile, Pérez could be subject to a 10-year prison sentence.