Amanda Pardo freed on bond in drug case

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The wife of Jovita's restaurant owner Amado Pardo was released Wednesday morning after posting an unsecured $25,000 bond in federal court.

The release of Amanda Pardo, 45, comes one day after the arraignment and detention hearing for her husband was postponed until Thursday and hearings for several other suspects charged with heroin distribution led to some being released on bond and others ordered to remain in custody.

An unsecured bond means she does have to pay unless terms of her release are violated.

"I am very happy Amanda is out," said Pardo family friend Kimber Reed. "Her family is happy she can go take care of her kids at home."

Reed has known the Pardo's for 20 years and says they are great family people who have two children and adopted their nephew and niece.

"It has been very hard on us all," said Reed who brought clothes for Amanda to wear after her release. "We have been shocked, upset, disappointed and we want to get everyone back home.

The judge also said she would be allowed to run the Jovita's business that has been closed since last Thursday's raid.

Amado "Mayo" Pardo, 64, and his wife were among 18 people arrested last week in an FBI-led raid.

During Tuesday's hearings, an FBI agent testified that the phones of some of the suspects were tapped. Among the recording was Sanchez speaking with Pardo about distributing heroin in East Austin and obtaining weapons for members of drug cartels.

Search warrants and suspects' homes and businesses turned up heroin-filled balloons and ammunition, authorities said. The balloons were to be bundled into groups of 18 and sold for $200.

The suspects in court were among 18 people arrested in what federal, state and local authorities was prison gang-based gang that had been distributing heroin.

On Tuesday, suspects Lean Day, 24, Jeffrey Finn, 45, and Jorge Carrillo, 44, were freed on unsecured $10,000 bonds.

During the hearing for Dianicio Sanchez, 62, a prosecution witness said authorities wanted to keep him in custody because they consider him a flight risk and danger to community. The judge agreed and ordered him detained without bail.

The hearings for Armado Pardo, Tatiana Huang. 25, and 32-year-old Chris Mier were rescheduled until 9 a.m. Thursday.

Police said 15 of the suspects were charged in a federal indictment with conspiracy to posses with intent to distribute heroin. The others are facing state felony charges for either possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute or possession of a controlled substance.