EXCLUSIVE: FBI SWAT team raid on Del Records boss Jose Angel del Villar
Exclusive pictures and video show the FBI SWAT raid on the home of Del Records honcho Jose Angel del Villar on Friday [May 22, 2020].
A heavily-armed SWAT team with armored trucks was dispatched to the gated community in Bell Gardens, California.
The source, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, said: "This was a heavy raid, there were about thirty FBI soldiers and two FBI soldier medics.
It looked like they were ready for a firefight.
They were in full battle gear.
"After that about 15 plain clothed FBI officers showed up." "But it was a reconnaissance error and a waste of resources because he wasn't even there.
He's been out of that house for a while now.
"They don't bring out the armored SWAT trucks and machine guns unless it's extremely serious.
This is the kind of team they use for Cartel busts." The Del Records offices were also raided on the same day.
Del Records issued a statement on Instagram denying the raid was related to their company, and insinuated that the was onus on singer-songwriter Gerardo Ortiz.
"To the best of our knowledge, Del Records is not a subject, but merely a source of information for the FBI's investigation into Mr. Ortiz.
We have cooperated fully with the FBI and will continue to do so," read the post.
Ortiz, 30, issued a counter statement through his company, Badsin Entertainment stating: "Today we learned the offices of Del Records and Del Entertainment Inc.
Were searched by the FBI, as well as the home of its owner, Jose Angel Del Villar, pursuant to a federally issued search warrant.
"Gerardo Ortiz currently has a lawsuit pending before the Los Angeles Superior Court and the California Labor Commissioner against the Del companies for alleged fraudulent conduct, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and violation of the Talent Agencies Act for swindling Mr. Ortiz out of many tens of millions of dollars.
"To our knowledge the search by the FBI at Del Records office and Mr. Del Villar's home does not involve Mr. Ortiz." In 2016, Ortiz was arrested by Mexican authorities at Guadalajara airport and accused of promoting violence in his video for the song "Fuiste mía." In the video, Ortiz plays a drug lord who forces his girlfriend into the trunk of a car and then sets the car on fire.
A video shot by another bystander and posted on YouTube reveals FBI agents appearing to charge through the the front door of Del Records office and use a flash-bang device.
Del Records, known for its narco music, is in a high-profile legal dispute with singer-songwriter Gerardo Ortiz.
In 2019, the company sued the star, alleging that he had insisted on being paid for performances in cash to evade taxes.
The lawsuit also claims that Ortiz was in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and that the label had loaned him money to pay his back taxes.
The FBI did not comment on the investigation, noting that the case has been sealed by a federal judge.
Exclusive pictures and video show the FBI SWAT raid on the home of Del Records honcho Jose Angel del Villar on Friday [May 22, 2020].
A heavily-armed SWAT team with armored trucks was dispatched to the gated community in Bell Gardens, California.
The source, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisal, said: "This was a heavy raid, there were about thirty FBI soldiers and two FBI soldier medics.
It looked like they were ready for a firefight.
They were in full battle gear.
"After that about 15 plain clothed FBI officers showed up." "But it was a reconnaissance error and a waste of resources because he wasn't even there.
He's been out of that house for a while now.
"They don't bring out the armored SWAT trucks and machine guns unless it's extremely serious.
This is the kind of team they use for Cartel busts." The Del Records offices were also raided on the same day.
Del Records issued a statement on Instagram denying the raid was related to their company, and insinuated that the was onus on singer-songwriter Gerardo Ortiz.
"To the best of our knowledge, Del Records is not a subject, but merely a source of information for the FBI's investigation into Mr. Ortiz.
We have cooperated fully with the FBI and will continue to do so," read the post.
Ortiz, 30, issued a counter statement through his company, Badsin Entertainment stating: "Today we learned the offices of Del Records and Del Entertainment Inc.
Were searched by the FBI, as well as the home of its owner, Jose Angel Del Villar, pursuant to a federally issued search warrant.
"Gerardo Ortiz currently has a lawsuit pending before the Los Angeles Superior Court and the California Labor Commissioner against the Del companies for alleged fraudulent conduct, breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and violation of the Talent Agencies Act for swindling Mr. Ortiz out of many tens of millions of dollars.
"To our knowledge the search by the FBI at Del Records office and Mr. Del Villar's home does not involve Mr. Ortiz." In 2016, Ortiz was arrested by Mexican authorities at Guadalajara airport and accused of promoting violence in his video for the song "Fuiste mía." In the video, Ortiz plays a drug lord who forces his girlfriend into the trunk of a car and then sets the car on fire.
A video shot by another bystander and posted on YouTube reveals FBI agents appearing to charge through the the front door of Del Records office and use a flash-bang device.
Del Records, known for its narco music, is in a high-profile legal dispute with singer-songwriter Gerardo Ortiz.
In 2019, the company sued the star, alleging that he had insisted on being paid for performances in cash to evade taxes.
The lawsuit also claims that Ortiz was in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and that the label had loaned him money to pay his back taxes.
The FBI did not comment on the investigation, noting that the case has been sealed by a federal judge.
