19 arrested, property and heroin seized in drug bust

Nineteen people were charged this week in connection to an alleged heroin distribution ring that authorities claim they busted on Thursday with raids on several homes and businesses including Jovita's restaurant in South Austin.   

Of those charged, 15 defendants have been indicted by a federal grand jury with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and distribution of heroin. According to the indictment, the defendants had been plotting to distribute more than one kilogram of heroin since May 2011. If found guilty, each defendant faces between ten years and life in prison.

The nearly year-long investigation, called Operation Muerte Negra, was a joint operation between Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.   

On Thursday morning, FBI agents executed search warrants at two homes in the 400 block of Milton Street in south Austin behind Jovita's Mexican restaurant. Authorities walked away from the properties with boxes of evidence collected from inside, including computers and hard drives.

Narcotics dogs were seen walking around the property as agents used shovels to dig up areas in the front yards of both residences.

Investigators say Amado Pardo, a.k.a. "Mayo," led the criminal operation and was responsible for daily heroin trafficking.  Pardo is also the owner of Jovita's.  Investigators allege that narcotics sales were conducted from the restaurant.  They estimate that the suspects generated between $3,400 to $6,250 in daily sales. 

The following suspects were indicted on the federal charges:

INDICTED/ARRESTED DEFENDANTS

 AMADO PARDO                        Age:     64         of Austin, Texas

JORGE CARRILLO                    Age:     44         of Lockhart, Texas

JOSE PARDO                           Age:     68         of Austin, Texas

AMANDA PARDO                      Age:     45         of Austin, Texas

TATIANA HUANG                      Age:     25         of Austin, Texas

MICHAEL MARTINEZ                Age:     66         of Austin, Texas

ALFREDO ALVAREZ                  Age:     62         of Austin, Texas

DAVID SOSA                           Age:     42         of Austin, Texas

LUCY ESTRADA                       Age:     32         of Austin, Texas

DIONICIO SANCHEZ               Age:     62         of Austin, Texas

CHRIS MIER                           Age:     32         of Austin, Texas

TERRY AYERS                         Age:     65         of Austin, Texas

KILPATRICK WILLIAMS          Age:     46         of Austin, Texas

LEAH DAY                              Age:     24         of Austin, Texas

JEFFREY FINN                        Age:     45         of Shenandoah, Texas

In addition to these suspects, four people are facing state felony charges for either possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute or possession of a controlled substance.  They were:

ROBERT TISSING                  Age: 25

JENNIFER ABEYTA                 Age: 22

SAMANTHA JO MURPHY        Age: 20

BRYAN HARWELL                  Age: 51