A music video production at a private estate in Guárico has evolved into a complex legal battle involving allegations of extortion, political rivalry, and the seizure of assets by high-ranking security officials.
The Music Video Pretext
The controversy began when Oswaldo José Cheremo Carrasquel, known as “El Pelón Cheremo,” allowed his property, Finca La Victoria, to be used for the filming of a Mexican-style corrido. The arrangement was facilitated by Juan Rodríguez, a funcionario of the Cuerpo de Investigaciones Científicas Penales y Criminalísticas (Cicpc), who was a friend of Cheremo.
According to family accounts, the production involved dancers, luxury vehicles, and the display of weapons. While the video was described as a “corrido de amor,” security forces later used the footage to claim the production was a “narcocorrido” linked to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Detention and Allegations of Extortion
On October 21, 2022, Captain Johan Augusto Sierra Sánchez of the Guardia Nacional Bolivariana (GNB) detained Cheremo. Family sources allege that Sierra initially asked for 60,000 dollars to “fix” the situation regarding the video.
The allegations of extortion escalated when Sierra reportedly demanded 800,000 dollars, claiming a general required the sum. When the payment was not met, Cheremo was formally presented to authorities and currently remains recluided in Rodeo III.
While Cheremo and a tiktoker known as “El Triple Bello” were detained, other participants in the video remained free. Cheremo’s family maintains that the weapons found were previously part of the estate’s security against cattle rustlers and that some ammunition was “planted” by police.
The Seizure of Finca La Victoria
Following Cheremo’s arrest, he was stripped of his finca, animals, machinery, and vehicles. The property was subsequently occupied by Comisario José Miguel Domínguez, known as “Miguelito,” the current subdirector of the Policía Nacional Bolivariana (PNB).
Domínguez, who also leads the Dirección de Acciones Estratégicas y Tácticas (DAET), has a history as a former escort for Freddy Alirio Bernal Rosales. He is currently under sanctions by the United States, France, and the Principality of Monaco.
Judicial Collapse and Political Friction
The case triggered a wave of arrests within the judiciary. Judge José Macsimino Márquez García, who granted Cheremo a substitute precautionary measure after an alleged payment of 240,000 dollars in assets and cash, was later dismissed and imprisoned.
Other figures caught in the fallout include the president of the Circuito Judicial de Caracas, his assistant, and a lawyer linked to a PSUV deputy. Loreannys Mariana Mejías Díaz, a lawyer who claimed to be an assistant to deputy Pedro Miguel Carreño Escobar, was also detained after allegedly demanding high sums for Cheremo’s release.
Defense sources suggest the case is rooted in a political clash between Lizeta Hernández Abchi and Yelitze de Jesús Santaella Hernández over regional power. Cheremo, a former provider for the National Electoral Council, is alleged to have fallen victim to this internal friction.
Future Outlook
The legal status of Finca La Victoria remains contested. A possible next step could involve further appeals to revoke the seizure of assets, especially as previous judicial decisions in the case have already been overturned by other judges.
Given the involvement of sanctioned officials and the collapse of the initial presiding judge’s authority, the case may continue to fluctuate based on the shifting political alliances within the regional administration of Guárico.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Oswaldo Cheremo arrested?
He was arrested following the recording of a music video at his finca, which authorities claimed was a “narcocorrido” linked to the Sinaloa Cartel, leading to charges related to the Law for Disarmament and Control of Arms and Munitions, and later, the Organic Law against Organized Crime and Financing of Terrorism.
Who currently occupies Finca La Victoria?
The property is currently occupied by Comisario José Miguel Domínguez (“Miguelito”), the subdirector of the Policía Nacional Bolivariana (PNB).
What happened to Judge José Macsimino Márquez García?
After granting a substitute precautionary measure that allowed for Cheremo’s temporary release, Judge Márquez García was dismissed from his position and imprisoned on March 17, 2023.
Do you believe the use of artistic expression, such as music videos, should be subject to such intense security scrutiny?
