Heroin drug raid nabs 15 in TX capital

AUSTIN, Texas (KXAN) - The owner of the popular South Austin restaurant Jovita's was among 15 people arrested by federal and local agents on Thursday on charges accusing them of operating a heroin ring.

They were taken into custody after a raid at the restaurant on South First Street and at nearby residences sometime around  5:30 a.m.

FBI spokesman Erik Vasys confirmed the raid was part of an investigation with the Austin Police Department at 1619 South First St. and a house in the 400 block of Milton Street.

The 15 suspects were charged in an indictment that was unsealed Thursday with conspiracy to posses with intent to distribute heroin.

Joviita's owner Amado Pardo, 64, was among those named in the indictment.

A neighbor told KXAN News of what sounded like four sonic booms around 5:30 a.m., at which time SWAT teams showed up.

The neighbor also said the owner of Jovita's has two homes on West Milton Street, which is the other spot FBI teams are investigating Thursday morning. Officers went into the yard of at least one of the homes with shovels and pickaxes, the neighbor said.

Others named were:

• Jorge Carrillo, 44, of Lockhart
• Jose Pardo, 68, of Austin
• Amanda Pardo, 45, of Austin
• Tatiana Huang. 25, of Austin
• Michael Martinez, 66, of Austin
• Alfredo Alvarez, 62, of Austin
• David Sosa, 42, of Austin
• Lucy Estrada, 32, of Austin
• Dionicio Sanchez, 62, of Austin
• Chris Mier, 32, of Austin
• Terry Ayers, 65, of Austin
• Kilpatrick Wiliams, 46, of Austin
• Leah Day, 24, of Austin
• Jeffrey Finn, 45, of Shenandoah