Daddy Yankee Hits Ex-Manager & Wife With RICO Lawsuit Over Royalties Theft: ‘Coordinated Attack’
In a shocking turn of events, reggaeton superstar Daddy Yankee, born Ramón Ayala Rodríguez, has filed a bombshell lawsuit against his former manager, Raphy Pina, and estranged wife, Mireddys González, alleging a decade-long racketeering conspiracy aimed at stealing his songwriting royalties. The lawsuit, which spans 107 pages, invokes the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act—typically associated with organized crime—and accuses Pina of fraudulently claiming co-authorship on Daddy Yankee’s songs, including hits like “La Rompe Corazones” and “Vuelve.” The claims suggest that Pina, with the help of González and other associates, systematically misappropriated publishing income and orchestrated a deliberate attack on the integrity of Daddy Yankee’s publishing operations.
The lawsuit paints a troubling picture of a coordinated effort to enrich themselves at Daddy Yankee’s expense. It alleges that Pina was the “central architect” of this scheme, while González, who managed Daddy Yankee’s business affairs for over 20 years, provided essential administrative support in falsifying split sheets. The legal action comes in the wake of Daddy Yankee’s divorce filing from González in December 2024, during which he claims to have uncovered the “chilling truth” about Pina’s fraudulent activities while auditing his finances. The lawsuit not only seeks to restore Daddy Yankee’s full publishing rights but also demands at least $3 million in damages for misappropriated royalties.
Pina’s alleged tactics extend beyond Daddy Yankee, as the lawsuit claims he employed similar schemes to exploit other artists he managed. Daddy Yankee’s legal team asserts that Pina used intimidation and threats of violence to suppress any dissent among young and vulnerable artists, creating a culture of fear that ensured compliance. While Pina and his associates have yet to publicly respond to the allegations, González’s attorney dismissed the claims as a fabrication, suggesting they are a strategic move by Daddy Yankee to gain leverage in their divorce proceedings. As this high-profile case unfolds, it raises critical questions about the ethics of management practices in the music industry and the lengths to which individuals may go for financial gain.
Daddy Yankee
has brought a bombshell lawsuit accusing his former manager,
Raphy Pina
, and estranged wife
Mireddys González
of scheming to steal songwriting royalties during a nearly decade-long racketeering conspiracy.
The reggaeton star (Ramón Ayala Rodríguez) is bringing civil claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, a federal organized crime statute often deployed against mobsters and gangs. The 107-page lawsuit accuses Pina, a veteran Latin music executive and founder of Pina Records, of plotting with González and other associates to fraudulently add Pina as a songwriter on Daddy Yankee’s split sheets.
Related
Daddy Yankee Says He’s ‘Still Under Construction’ During Superstar Q&A at 2025 Latin Music Week
Weezer Bassist Scott Shriner’s Wife Files For Divorce Eight Months After LAPD Shootout
Australia’s Parliament Passes Content Quotas For Streaming Video Platforms
“[Pina], with the assistance and acquiescence of co-defendants, systematically misappropriated publishing income,” reads the legal complaint filed Saturday (Nov. 29). “Defendants’ conduct constituted a deliberate, sustained and coordinated attack on the integrity of plaintiffs’ publishing operations.”
Daddy Yankee alleges that Pina falsely made himself a co-author so he could receive royalties on more than a dozen of his songs back to 2015, including the
Billboard
Hot Latin Songs chart entries “La Rompe Corazones,” “Runaway” “De Vuelta Pa’ La Vuelta” and “Vuelve” featuring
Bad Bunny
.
The lawsuit claims Pina was the “central architect of the RICO enterprise” and that González, who managed Daddy Yankee’s business enterprises during more than 20 years of marriage, provided the “administrative backbone” for falsifying the split sheets. The two allegedly got help from Pina’s music industry mentor,
Andres Coll-Fernández,
and lawyer
Edwin Prado-Galarza
.
Daddy Yankee filed for divorce from González in December 2024, and marriage dissolution proceedings are still ongoing. In the meantime, the singer has brought multiple legal actions against his estranged wife, alleging she
severely mismanaged
the finances of his label, El Cartel Records, and publishing company Los Cangris. Daddy Yankee
seized control
of the companies, and he says he discovered the “chilling truth” of Pina’s royalty fraud during an ensuing financial audit.
Related
Del Records CEO Ángel del Villar Will Stay Out Of Prison As He Appeals Cartel Convictions: Judge
The lawsuit claims that Pina also used the same scheme to steal royalties from other artists he managed. It adds that Pina, who has
served prison time
for gun possession, used threats of violence to “silence and deter” young and vulnerable artists from questioning his tactics.
“Leveraging his considerable height and strength, [Pina] cultivated an atmosphere of constant threat, ensuring that artists and associates remained compliant out of fear for their safety and well-being,” wrote Daddy Yankee’s lawyers.
The lawsuit seeks a court injunction to restore Daddy Yankee’s full publishing rights, as well as financial damages of at least $3 million for the misappropriated royalties.
Pina, Coll-Fernández and Prado-Galarza did not immediately return requests for comment on Wednesday (Dec. 3). González’s attorney,
Roberto Sueiro
, told
Billboard
that the claims are “all a fabrication” created by Daddy Yankee to gain a tactical advantage in their divorce proceedings.
“Daddy Yankee wants a favorable split of the community property that comes from their 20-plus years marriage,” Sueiro said. “He’s trying to use the press to create a favorable atmosphere before that split takes place.”
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering Celeb & Ent news.
