Music Executive Sentenced For Doing Business With Mexican Criminal Cartel

April 13, 2026 ·

Photo courtesy of Ian Harber.

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Tuesday, April 7, Luca Scalisi, 59, the chief financial officer of Del Records, was sentenced by a Downtown Los Angeles federal judge for his role in Del Records’ business dealings with a Mexican Criminal Cartel. Scalisi was sentenced to spend eight months in federal prison.

According to the reporting done by WeHo Times, Scalisi is required to pay a $15,000 fine.  Mexican concert promoter Jesús Pérez Alvear, who headed a company named Gallistica Diamante Perez, along with his company, was identified as being involved in drug trafficking by the United States Treasury Department.

This involvement took the form of a musician, contracted to Del Entertainment, performing at concerts promoted by Jesús Pérez Alvear.

Per a press release issued by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, on August 15, 2025, José Ángel Del Villar, the head of both Del Records and Del Entertainment Inc., Alvear laundered money for both the Los Cuinis drug trafficking organization and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación.

Del Villar and Del Entertainment Inc were found guilty on 10 counts of violating the Kingpin Act, which allows the Department of the Treasury to place sanctions on narcotics traffickers and cartels, and also prevents U.S. companies from doing business with them. Del Villar and his entertainment company was also found guilty of committing one count of violating the Kingpin Act. It took the form of conspiring to engage in transaction with a specially designated narcotics traffickers in violation of the Kingpin Act.

In April 2018, the defendants did business with Jesús Pérez Alvear, a.k.a. “Chucho,” of Guadalajara, Mexico, a music promoter who controlled Gallistica Diamante, a.k.a. Ticket Premier. Pérez promoted concerts for Del Entertainment in Mexico until March 2019.

The U.S. Treasury Department listed Pérez and his company as “specially designated narcotics traffickers” under the Kingpin Act on April 6, 2018, after concluding he facilitated money laundering for the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) and the Los Cuinis drug trafficking organization. The Kingpin Act prevents people in the United States from conducting business with sanctioned persons and entities.

On May 23, 2025, Scalisi pled guilty to committing one count of conspiracy to do a transaction with a specially designated narcotics trafficker. The prosecution was part of Operation Take Back America.

Canyon News reached out to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, for comment on the sentencing of Scalisi and the prosecution that lead to the sentencing, who indicated they had no comment.

 

By Daniel Diquinzio

Next Post

Santa Monica Pier Bridge Update

SANTA MONICA—On April 12, the city of Santa Monica posted on its Facebook page that the existing Colorado Avenue vehicle ramp is now closed to vehicular traffic for the duration of the project. Crews have opened a temporary vehicle access…
Read
Previous Post

Fire Service Day Scheduled For May 9

SANTA MONICA—On April 8, the city of Santa Monica announced on its website that the Santa Monica Fire Department invites the community to celebrate Fire Service Day at Fire Station 1 located at 1337 7th Street, with a fun, family-friendly…
Read
Random Post

Elevated Fire Conditions As A Result Of Santa Ana Winds

MALIBU—On Monday, October 27, the city of Malibu posted on its Facebook page that elevated to brief critical fire weather conditions are expected across Los Angeles and Ventura Counties (including Malibu) for Tuesday, October 28 thru Wednesday, October 29 due…
Read
Random Post

Residents Warned Of Mudslides, Debris Flow From Rainfall

MALIBU—The city of Malibu announced on its Facebook page that residents should be aware of upcoming rainfall that is slated to hit the area. The city activated its storm response plan and is actively monitoring the situation in coordination with…
Read
Random Post

Urgency Ordinance Approved For Housing Assisting Wildfire Victims

WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Tuesday, January 28, the city of West Hollywood announced that as a result of recent wildfires, it the City Council unanimously approved an Urgent Ordinance during a Special Meeting on January 21. This measure is designed to assist…
Read
Random Post

Hiker Hoisted To Rescue In Pacific Palisades

PACIFIC PALISADES—The Los Angeles Fire Department reported on its website that they had to hoist a hiker who needed rescuing on Sunday, August 11. It was reported at 11:33 a.m. at Rogers Fire Rd. The LAFD Air Operations located a…
Read