Alejandro Fernández has thrown his weight behind Rafa Márquez and Julión Álvarez who have both been accused of laundering money for Mexican drug kingpin Raúl Flores Hernandez.
Alejandro Fernandez took to his social media pages to post a message calling for support for both Márquez and Álvarez. “My moral support to Julión Álvarez and Rafa Márquez, including his family, friends and fans,” he wrote on Twitter. “Waiting for everything to clarify for their well-being.”
Mi apoyo moral a @julionalvarez y @RafaMarquezMX incluyendo a sus familias , amigos y fans! Esperando que todo se aclare para su bienestar!
— Alejandro Fernández (@alexoficial) August 11, 2017
The two celebrities (Álvarez and Márquez) have both denied having any connection with Flores although Rafa Marquez confirmed that he knew the drug lord personally and never thought that he was a drug lord. He said; “I know him, I didn’t know he was a drug trafficker,”
Álvarez, on the other hand, revealed that he had not received any information from both the American and Mexican authorities regarding the news and does not know if his accounts have been frozen by the authorities. He said; “I am a dignified person with a lot of values… I like to walk on the right path unless I twist my ankle and I walk funny.”
When the news broke, Álvarez quickly took to his Facebook page to deny the allegations saying he had no ties with Flores. He said in his Facebook live video; “I need to seek advice to see where this is coming from. I am a countryman that knows how to do his things … it has cost me a lot – the little or a lot of things that I have. I don’t have the need to do the things that I am being accused of. You guys know who I am, I also have a lot of friends that know me, but this is part of [the industry].”
https://www.facebook.com/JulionAlvarez/videos/1594007550672787/
He went further: “On the day they tell me to present myself, I will be there. Rafa Márquez is one of the best soccer players and he has been playing soccer for many years, he doesn’t need to be involved in this. Maybe we could team up or do it independently. I only think has something to do with envy, jealousy and success, everything that they are saying has an explanation. Let’s pray and believe me that I am alright, don’t worry about me.”
Rafa Márquez also took denied the allegation and called a press conference to deny the allegations. “I understand the judicial situation that I am in and I will look at it with my lawyers,” he said during a brief press conference. “I want to make it clear that I don’t and have never participated with these organizations that I am being linked to.” He also added: “I will cooperate with the government when I am asked to. I want to ask for respect towards me and my family. I thank everyone that has sent me messages of motivation and support and I will not fail you.”
Márquez and Álvarez are among the 63 other individuals who have been indicted by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for their alleged ties with Raúl Flores Hernández. John E. Smith stated that the alleged drug lord has been in business for years because of his cordial business relationship with other cartels and his use of popular figures in the society to cover his drug earnings. “Raúl Flores Hernandez has operated for decades because of his longstanding relationships with other drug cartels and his use of financial front persons to mask his investments of illegal drug proceeds,” he said. “This major joint action reflects the U.S. government’s close cooperation with our law enforcement partners in Mexico to stop the illegal flow of narcotics and to target and expose drug kingpins and those who facilitate their illicit financial networks.”
There are no reports or indications that both Álvarez and Márquez will be extradited to face charges in the United States.