WeHo music exec tied to Mexican drug cartels

A pair of Southland music executives were arrested Tuesday for allegedly conspiring to do business with a Guadalajara-based concert promoter with ties to Mexican drug cartels.

Angel Del Villar, 41, of Huntington Beach, and Luca Scalisi, 56, of West Hollywood, are each charged with a federal county of conspiracy to transact in property of specially designated narcotics traffickers, in violation of the Foreign Narcotics Kingpin Designation Act, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Villar is the CEO of Del Records and its subsidiary talent agency Del Entertainment. Scalisi is the chief financial officer of Del Entertainment, prosecutors said.

Both made their initial court appearance in downtown Los Angeles Tuesday and were released — Villar on $100,000 bond and Scalisi on $35,000.

A third defendant, Mexican national Jesus Perez Alvear, 37, is believed to still be in Mexico, prosecutors said. Alvear is a music promoter who controls Gallistica Diamante, also known as Ticket Premier, and promoted concerts for El Entertainment until March 2019, prosecutors said. Alvear and Gallistica are both considered “specially designated narcotics traffickers” under the Kingpin Act. The act prevents people in the United States from doing business with them.

Despite the prohibition, Villar and Scalisi allegedly arranged performances by an unnamed “well-known musician” at a series of concerts promoted by Alvear in 2018 and 2019, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Villar and Scalisi face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. Alvear faces up to 10 years in prison if he is captured and convicted.

Villar and Scalisi are due back in court for arraignment July 20.