Eight McKinney residents arrested in heroin ring

by Staff of Star Local News

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One person from Dallas and one from Van Alstyne are also allegedly part of the ring.

Ten area residents were arrested Tuesday in connection with a federal drug trafficking case.

A federal grand jury returned a sealed indictment December 14, 2011, charging 16 individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin. The indictment resulted from an undercover investigation of a heroin conspiracy involving the McKinney residents, a Dallas resident, and a Van Alstyne resident.

The McKinney Police Department (MPD) and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in July 2011 began a joint investigation into drug trafficking in the area. Through the investigation, police alleged that the following McKinney residents were involved in the case: Ernest Michael Diaz, 19; Teresa Rodriguez, 26; Santiago Adri Sepulveda, 20; Joe Diaz, 27; Ricardo Julio Castillo Jr., 20; Michael Angel Padron, 18; Oscar K. Montoyo-Castillo, 21; and Steven William Taylor, 20.

The other two area residents charged in the federal indictment were Nancy Aleida Granados, 27, of Dallas; and Brittany Leann Vollweiler, 22, of Van Alstyne.

Per the indictment, a task force of 55 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers conducted a roundup of the individuals Tuesday. The defendants went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amos Mazzant for initial appearances Wednesday.

If convicted, the defendants each face up to 40 years in federal prison. The indictment also seeks forfeiture of any property used to commit or facilitate the crimes, and of any property derived from proceeds of the conspiracy.

Included in the investigation and arrests of the case were the MPD, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Collin County Sheriff's Office, Greenville Police Department, Hunt County Attorney's Office, Hunt County Constable Pct. 1, Texas DPS, and U.S. Marshals. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ernest Gonzalez will prosecute the case.

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