The Cooperative Cruz Azul is a company with a different way of functioning. Its property is joint and its democratic management: each member has a vote and is equal. In the case of the Cooperative Cruz Azul, it was founded in 1931, when the government of the State of Hidalgo expropriated a cement factory— located in what was previously known as Jasso and now called Ciudad Cooperativa Cruz Azul— built in 1881 and handed over to its 192 workers. The Álvarez Cuevas family could be considered part of the royal family of the company: their two grandparents are founders and their father was director of the cooperative from 1953 to 1976. Like Billy, he was accused of diverting money during his management. In 1988, only 12 years later, Billy Álvarez was elected president of the Cooperative in its general assembly. This is the highest governing body and is held once a year. In it, leaders must account to the cooperative members and, when the terms are met, choose the new leaders. According to the law, the maximum time a person can be president is ten years, but Billy Álvarez Cuevas remained more than three decades at the head of Cruz Azul. In that long period, according to journalistic and judicial investigations, he and his family diverted hundreds of millions of pesos. The information was first published in March 2019 by the Mexicanos contra la Corrupción portal, under the title of The Millionaire Game of the Cooperative Cruz Azul. The documents that served as a basis were leaked by a group opposed to taking control of the cooperative and all its businesses associated with the Álvarez Cuevas clan. From 2016 to 2017, Billy Álvarez, as general director, would have authorized the payment of almost 200 million pesos to a dozen companies for consulting services for the Cooperative Cruz Azul. The problem was that, in addition to not having evidence that these services were performed, it was that all these companies had the classic red flags that pointed to them being shell companies. In 2020, the Attorney General's Office initiated an investigation against Billy Álvarez for organized crime and money laundering. In January 2025, he was detained in a house in the south of Mexico City. Now, while facing trial, he has died in prison.