Gerardo Ortiz Medinaa Mexican regional interpreter, must pay US$1.5 million (equivalent to about Q11.7 million) as a fine in California, United States.
This amount was determined by Judge Maame Ewusi Frimpong who dismissed the singer’s defense request to reduce the amount to US$250 thousand (Q1.95 million). Milenio highlighted that the singer-songwriter born in Pasadena, California, in addition to paying this fine, has three years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to working with a company linked to the Jalisco Nueva Generación Cartel (CJNG).
Last February, the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho”, one of the most wanted drug lords by the US, was killed during an operation with federal forces, as confirmed by sources from the Government of Mexico.
It was reported that the singer offered several concerts in Aguascalientes. The presentations were organized by José Ángel del Villar, in collaboration with the company Gallística Diamante, owned by Jesús Pérez Alvear; Both entities had been identified by the United States Department of the Treasury as key players in the alleged money laundering for the CJNG.
The FBI determined that Ortiz received approximately $1.5 million for these presentations. Del Villar was sentenced to four years in prison.
After his collaboration with the justice system, Gerardo Ortiz’s defense has expressed concern for the singer’s integrity.
The artist’s latest publication only says “April is coming strong” and announces the next concerts he will have in the United States and Mexico.
In 2021, Billboard highlighted that even before his voice changed, Gerardo Ortiz knew he wanted to be a musician. “At age 8, while performing at a baptism party in Sinaloa, Mexico, a record executive asked him if he wanted to record his first album. Since then, he has helped transform the regional Mexican genre by creating a musical fusion of provocative corridos and emotional ranchera ballads with bachata, urban music and narcocorridos,” the article described.
Since then, the Mexican-American artist has reached first places with his music and has also been nominated for awards. He currently has more than 15 years of artistic career.
“My music gained strength on both sides of the border because my movement was different. I sang corridos and they were played a lot on the radio, which surprised many. They have been years of ups and downs. I have had many successes, but I have also faced controversies and many challenges,” he said upon celebrating 10 years of his artistic projection.
“The old Gerardo was not aware of what he was writing. He wrote in the moment, what came to mind. I recorded the song without questioning the lyrics, and that was it. Now I take my time to write. I know what I want to write, what I want to modify, and I have learned to control the process better. In general, I am a better storyteller. But sometimes, I miss that spontaneity, because before I took risks with my lyrics. There are times when that old Gerardo comes back, and it’s a good balance,” said the artist then.