The Lopez Cartel was a Cuban-American crime syndicate that was based in Miami, Florida during the 20th century. The cartel was headed by Cuban-Jewish immigrant Frank Lopez, who became a wealthy businessman from his involvement in the cocaine business. Lopez was focused on a straight path for his cartel, refusing to seek power by destroying other cartels; instead, he focused on running legitimate businesses such as Lopez Motors and his own Little League team. In 1980, Lopez recurited Tony Montana and Manny Ribera into his organization, and the ambitious Montana began to make moves by himself and make deals without Lopez's permission. When Montana became out-of-control on the streets and began to lust after Lopez's girlfriend Elvira Hancock, Lopez sent policeman Mel Bernstein to extort him, and he also sent hitmen to kill him at the Babylon Club. After killing the hitmen, Montana confronted Lopez and Bernstein at Lopez Motors and killed both of them, and Montana took over Lopez's organization, which now became the "Montana Cartel".