Kate del Castillo, actress and known associate of Mexican drug lord El Chapo, is under investigation for suspected money laundering in Mexico. A Mexican government official confirmed the investigation to CNN.
A dual citizen of both Mexico and the United States, Kate del Castillo has been called to give a statement to investigators but thus far hasn’t been charged with a crime.
Actress Kate del Castillo under investigation for allegedly receiving money from "El Chapo": https://t.co/kE49OyVtOT pic.twitter.com/lEApYeJxsZ
— World News Tonight (@WNTonight) January 21, 2016
The investigation into the actress is twofold. Links to El Chapo–Joaquin Guzman–are one part. The other involves her tequila–Honor Del Castillo. Investigators are checking to see if drug money helped fund her business.
Attorney General Arely Gomez said in a recent interview with El Universal that they believe there are connections between the drug money and Kate del Castillo’s boutique tequila business. They have yet to find proof, however.
“Even where there are indications, we need legal certainty,” Gomez said.
Comments between El Chapo and Kate del Castillo are under scrutiny, with investigators seeking comments including “we’re in business” and “we’re in this together,” Gomez added.
Kate del Castillo was with actor Sean Penn during his El Chapo interview for Rolling Stone magazine. She brokered the meeting, saying she wanted to make a movie out of Guzman’s story. She isn’t being investigated for the movie angle, however.
“We have an investigation into the tequila angle; we are not investigating her plans to make a movie,” Gomez told El Universal. “Our investigation is focused.”
The actress recently thanked her supporters via social media.
— kate del castillo (@katedelcastillo) January 13, 2016
What’s your take on actress Kate del Castillo? Does her involvement with El Chapo include drug money, or was she merely interested in seeing the drug lord’s story on the big screen?