Jovita's founder has terminal illness

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The founder of longtime Austin restaurant, Jovita’s, will now await a judge’s decision from his hospital bed on whether terms of his bond status can change, in light of a terminal illness.

Attorney Ben Florey says his client is in discussion with Judge Lane on additional conditions of his bond status. Florey says Amado “Mayo” Pardo, 64 was transferred to a medical care facility in Dec. after complications from a previous condition he was suffering when he was jailed. Amado Pardo had been hospitalized just before a scheduled court appearance in June of last year.

Amado Pardo, owner of Jovita's, located on South First Street, and his brother, Jose Pardo, were jailed in July. According to attorney Stephen Orr., Amado Pardo has previously served jail time for two murders.

U.S. District Court Judge Mark Lane denied bail in July of last year for the two brothers in custody on charges of intent to distribute heroin, a case involving 18 people connected to Jovita’s.

Amado Pardo's wife, Amanda Pardo, was released on an unsecured $25,000 bond on June 27 .   The judge allowed Amanda Pardo to run the Jovita's business, which had been closed since the FBI raid on the restaurant on June 21 .

The FBI obtained search warrants and found large quantities of heroin-filled balloons and ammunition inside the suspects' homes and businesses. The balloons were to be bundled into groups of 18 and sold for $200.

Austin Police said Amado Pardo was convicted of murder in 1972 and again in 1985. He served eight years on the second conviction.

"The investigation focused on the dismantling of the local cell of the Texas Syndicate prison gang," APD said in a news release after the raid on June 21. "During the investigation, investigators were able to determine that large amounts of heroin were kept, sold, and distributed from several locations in and around Central Texas using the city of Austin as the base of their operations."

Others previously released on bond include Lean Day, 24, Jeffrey Finn, 45, and Jorge Carrillo, 44, who were freed on unsecured $10,000 bonds.

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.