One of the upcoming miniseries on Netflix gives us a glimpse of the vast drug empire of Griselda Blanco. We'll also get to know the people in her life who served her. Speaking of, who is Jorge Rivi Ayala from Griselda on Netflix?
This is a spoiler-free article on Rivi Ayala, as well as the actor who plays him on Griselda.
Who is Jorge Rivi Ayala in Griselda on Netflix?
Jorge Rivi Ayala in Griselda on Netflix is a hitman from the 80s who served Miami Queenpin, Griselda Blanco. When he was arrested, however, he turned on his boss so he could save himself.
There were times in the past when Ayala served as the voice of reason for Blanco's mad demands. Even though he was a hitman, Ayala knew his boss was far more violent than he was.
Police had a difficult time looking for Ayala since they were looking for someone named Riverita. Ayala was given this nickname from the Colombian cartoon character due to his high-pitched voice.
In an interview with Miami New Times in 2005, police captain Nelson Andreu said:
“We were looking for a hit man named Riverita. We’d been looking for this guy we only knew as Riverita for a while. We assumed he probably was named Rivera or Rivero and the nickname was based on that.”
RELATED: Did Griselda Blanco Know or Work for Pablo Escobar?
Why Did Rivi Ayala Betray Griselda?
When police arrested Blanco in 1985, she was immediately sentenced to almost two decades in prison over charges of drug trafficking.
After that, Ayala was arrested for a bank heist in Chicago. They then realized that he was the Riverita that they were looking for.
Ayala, facing the possibility of the death penalty, decided to strike a deal with prosecutors. He turned in his boss: Griselda Blanco.
When Ayala told them about his boss, he warned them to be careful since she was "drawing too much attention."
Ayala confessed to killing or witnessing the deaths of at least 30 people.
For his confession and cooperation, Ayala was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years.
Ever since 1993, Ayala has been serving his time in prison. He has tried to appeal for a lower sentence on several occasions. These, however, were not approved.
It is said that he will be deported to Colombia once he gets released from prison.
RELATED: What Happened to Griselda Blanco's Money After She Went to Prison?
Who Plays Jorge Rivi Ayala in Griselda? Where You've Seen Him Before
The actor playing Rivi Ayala in Griselda on Netflix is Argentine actor Martín Rodríguez. He made his film debut in 2009 after starring as the lead in El Cuarto Leo. This role landed him several awards.
Rodríguez has also starred in Time and the Wind and Zanahoria.
Catch Rodríguez in his portrayal of Rivi Ayala in Griselda. The docuseries comes out on Netflix on January 25, 2024.
Follow our Facebook page for more news coverage and other explainer articles.
RELATED: Why Was Griselda Blanco Called the Black Widow?
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!