Dominican artists with criminal records: Masha case
The recent confirmation that the drug seized from urban artist Masha was synthetic marijuana has once again brought the criminal records of Dominican show business figures into the spotlight. The case, according to a source from the DNCD, involves a laboratory-produced substance of high commercial value , which circulates primarily in middle- and upper-class circles.
The episode revives a long list of national artists who, over the past decades, have faced criminal proceedings for serious crimes , ranging from drug trafficking and violence to homicide and sexual abuse.
1980s and 1990sMerenguero Dimanchy (Domingo Antonio Concepción Ramírez) was one of the first Dominican musicians to face drug trafficking charges . In the 1990s, he was linked to the so-called "salsa cans case," an attempt to export drugs disguised in food packaging. After years on the run, he was arrested in 2007 with heroin, weapons, and military equipment in Santo Domingo. He served time in prison in Najayo .
In 2004, bachatero Joselito.com (José Arismendy Almonte Peña) was extradited to Puerto Rico for being part of a cocaine trafficking ring. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and repatriated in 2010 after serving his sentence.
In 2006, former dancer Rossy Rosario and her niece were arrested at Las Américas Airport with more than 9,000 ecstasy pills . A court sentenced them to eight years in prison, although they were released on parole three years later.
In 2010, Dominican-born singer Jimmy Bauer (Jimmy José Vargas) was arrested while trying to travel to New York with capsules of liquid heroin in his stomach. He was sentenced to six years, of which he served three for good behavior .
2010s: Urban Boom and the Courts
In 2011, urban merengue singer Franklin The Boss was requested for extradition by the United States, accused of child trafficking . He spent eleven months in detention in Najayo, but was released when US authorities withdrew the request.
That same year, Secreto "El Famoso Biberón" faced a lawsuit for using a minor in a music video, and El Sujeto was accused of seducing a teenager and threatening others. Neither was convicted .
In 2013, urban singer Vakeró was accused of domestic violence by his then-wife, artist Martha Heredia . A court acquitted him due to lack of evidence .
Months later, Martha Heredia , winner of the Latin American Idol competition, was arrested at Cibao Airport with nearly two kilos of cocaine hidden in her shoes. She was sentenced to seven years and released on parole after serving three.
Omega and repeated violence
Urban merengue singer Omega "El Fuerte" (Antonio Peter de la Rosa) has faced multiple legal proceedings. In 2016, he was sentenced to five years in prison for domestic violence against his partner. He served nearly two years. He had previously been arrested for physical assault and illegal possession of weapons. In 2021, he was arrested again for threatening with a firearm .
2020: Social Media and ControversiesIn 2020, Don Miguelo (Miguel Ángel Valerio) was arrested after posting videos of teenagers dancing sensually on social media. He was released on periodic appearance while the case was investigated for violating the law for the protection of minors .
In 2021, Tokischa ( Tokischa Altagracia Peralta) was prosecuted for conducting a sexually explicit photo shoot in a chapel in Jarabacoa. A court imposed a fine and a one-year restriction on visiting the site.
Cases of homicide and abuse
That same year, rapper La Real Musa was arrested for her alleged involvement in the murder of artist MC Yow in San Francisco de Macorís. The judicial process is ongoing .
Also in 2021, former member of the duo Los Pepes, El Crok (Michael Valdez de la Rosa), was investigated for the death of a 17-year-old girl in his apartment. In October 2025, he was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison.
In 2022, artist Rochy RD (Aderly Ramírez Oviedo) was arrested for alleged sexual abuse of a minor . His artistic partner, La Demente (Esteisi Peña Santana), was also accused of soliciting teenagers for private parties. Both were acquitted after it was shown that there was insufficient evidence or testimony to confirm the incident. The couple remains together and recently had a child.
That same year, dembowsero Onguito Wa (Elvis Manuel Santos Alcántara) was charged with involuntary manslaughter after hitting and killing a Haitian motorcyclist. According to the case, he fled the scene and convinced a friend to turn himself in. He is currently on trial with probation .
Dominican urban singer Steven Diloné Serrata, known as Dilon Baby , has faced several legal problems, including a recent conviction and other accusations of assault. In June 2025, Dilon Baby was sentenced to five years in prison for assault and sexual exploitation of the young Masha .
Recidivism patternCourt cases involving Dominican artists reveal a pattern that transcends generations and genres. From drug trafficking in the 1980s to traffic incidents and child abuse today, the relationship between popularity and criminal behavior has been a recurring one.
Some have served sentences and resumed their careers, others remain under open prosecution , but all have set a precedent for how fame and impunity can coincide in the same setting.
Masha's case , although still under investigation, adds to that history. This time, it involves a different substance: laboratory-grown marijuana intended for an exclusive market, reflecting the evolution of a phenomenon in which spectacle and the law once again intersect.
TOPICS -
Diariolibre
