Federal jury convicts 2 members of South Austin drug ring
Two of the men arrested in last year’s federal sting dubbed “Operation Muerta Negra” were convicted Friday for their roles in a South Austin citywide drug distribution ring.
Sixty-eight-year-old Jose Pardo and 45-year-old Jorge Carrillo were both convicted on one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin, according to Daryl Fields with the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Fields said the two conspired to distribute more than 17 kilograms of heroin over a period of about a year, starting in May of 2011.
Pardo and Carrillo were arrested in a multi-agency raid on a drug ring operated out of the South Austin restaurant and live music venue, Jovita’s.
Authorities said that the owner of Jovita’s, Amado “Mayo” Pardo, used his connections with the Texas Syndicate prison gang to establish the heroin distribution operation and then served as the operation’s ringleader.
Jose Pardo and Jorge Carrillo, along with 12 other defendants arrested in the sting who have pleaded guilty, will be sentenced on May 3, according to Fields.
Amado Pardo died last month before his trial reached court.