News reports from multiple outlets in Spain—including the Prensa Ibérica group and La Nueva España—describe ongoing scrutiny of the leadership of the Asturian financial group Brigantine Blacksmith, amid allegations of a pyramid-like scheme. Legal sources linked to the case indicate that the pressure intensified over several years, with insiders painting a picture of a high-speed life led by the company’s president, an Asturian businessman. It is claimed that he and key collaborators enjoyed a lifestyle marked by regular private plane use, high-end car rentals, and stays at top-tier hotels, with some managers even documenting these habits on social networks.
According to these sources, executives relied on a car-rental service to travel in luxury models such as the BMW 7 Series and 3 Series, the Mercedes GLC 300, and the Audi Q5 and A3. It is also noted that González Herrero personally owned an Audi Q8 and an Audi A5 Convertible for private use, underscoring the personal level of asset access described by insiders.
For longer journeys—such as trips to London, where the group maintains a delegation—senior managers reportedly chartered private aircraft from a provider identified as Air Charter Services. A source familiar with the company’s routines described the aircraft as typically six-seaters, though configurations varied with circumstances. A representative for Air Charter Services declined to comment when approached by the press. Market insiders estimate that renting a small plane can reach approximately 4,000 euros per hour.
Private air travel was not the only privileged option described. On at least one occasion, González Herrero and another board member traveled to London by private jet and, facing heavy road traffic from the airport to the city center, had access to a on-demand helicopter. A longtime associate of the company noted that the executives stayed in premium accommodations such as the Ritz and the Eurostars Madrid Tower in Madrid, reflecting a pattern of five-star hospitality in multiple locations.
Sources indicate that González Herrero’s private life accelerated in 2021 when he remarried. His partner, Kelly Galeano, who had previously worked as a waiter in Ponferrada, soon assumed the role of vice president within the firm. The couple reportedly married aboard a vessel in Ibiza on August 14, 2021. The boat rental for such a feature-rich celebration can carry daily costs approaching 10,000 euros, as indicated by insiders familiar with maritime charter rates.
On December 15, González Herrero was detained for several hours in Madrid by officers from the Economic and Financial Crime Unit, known as UDEF. In the months prior, the businessman had spent time in his wife’s hometown of Medellín, Colombia, where legal insiders describe the couple as living a life that suggested significant affluence and influence in both personal and business circles.
Last week, National Court judge Santiago Pedraz announced that he would not take over the case’s investigation as requested by a Salamanca court. The full scope of the events remains undetermined, though Pedraz noted the possibility that investments made on behalf of hundreds of Brigantina customers could have been diverted toward other projects or individuals with specific interests, signaling potential conflicts in how funds were allocated.