Witnesses testify in Jovita's trial

Witnesses who pleaded guilty in the heroin conspiracy ring testified in court on Tuesday.

Tatiana Huang, an Ecuador native who was studying Spanish at the University of Texas, worked in the kitchen at Jovita’s South First Street.

Huang, a heroin addict, testified that she learned how to process the drug in the restaurant’s kitchen and was also paid in heroin by Amado Prado. She also said she would process about six ounces a week of the drug at Prado’s house.

Huang also testified Jorge Carrillo was the supplier of the heroin and that Jose Prado was running a completely separate operation from his brother, Amado.

Another woman, Lucy Estada, 33, testified to picking up heroin several times a day from Alfredo Alvarez, who was also arrested in connection with the heroin ring.

She said she met with Amado Prado and Carrillo on three occasions, and included they wanted her to make a trip to Mexico and then smuggle heroin and cocaine back into the United States.

The testimony continued with information from a Texas Department of Public Safety agent who was assigned to surveillance of Carrillo. The agent noted placing a GPS tracker on one of Carrillo's vehicles and the surveillance lasted for almost eight months.

During that time, Carrillo’s vehicle was seen three times at Amado Prado’s house, and transcripts of phone calls suggest Carrillo was the supplier for both of the brothers.

However, on two different occasions, police searched Carrillo’s vehicle and home and turned up no evidence of heroin. During the search of his home, a plastic bag containing $22,800 in cash was located.

The DPS agent noted that from experience, dealers typically do not keep their drugs at home, especially when children are present. The agent said this was the case with Carrillo, who was spotted on numerous occasions taking his children to school.

Carrillo and Jose Pardo are among 15 suspects charged with intent to distribute heroin from the restaurant. Amado Prado died in January while in hospice care .

In all, police seized $1.5 million in assets , including the restaurant, weapons, cars and cash.

The FBI, Austin police, the Travis County Sheriff's Office and the Texas Department of Public Safety were among the agencies who participated in the roundup.