PLANO, Texas - U.S. Attorney John M. Bales announced today that 10 North Texas residents have been arrested following a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking in the McKinney, Texas area.

                In July 2011, McKinney Police and Texas DPS began an undercover investigation of a heroin conspiracy involving several McKinney and Van Alstyne residents.  A federal grand jury returned a sealed indictment on Dec. 14, 2011, charging 16 individuals with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute heroin.  A task force of 55 federal, state and local law enforcement officers conducted a round-up of those individuals on Jan. 17, 2012.  Those defendants in custody went before U.S. Magistrate Judge Amos Mazzant on Jan. 18, 2012, for initial appearances.

Those charged in the federal indictment and arrested are as follows:

                Defendant                                                          DOB                       City       
                Ernest Michael Diaz                                     10/04/1992         McKinney
                Teresa Rodriguez                                          05/16/1985         McKinney
                Santiago Adri Sepulveda                              03/06/1991         McKinney
                Joe Diaz                                                         08/24/1984         McKinney
                Ricardo Julio Castillo, Jr.                             06/23/1991         McKinney
                Michael Angel Padron                                  08/03/1993         McKinney
                Oscar K. Montoyo-Castillo                          06/04/1990         McKinney
                Nancy Aleida Granados                               01/19/1985         Dallas
                Steven William Taylor                                  02/17/1991         McKinney
                Brittany Leann Vollweiler                            03/16/1989         Van Alstyne, TX
               
               
               
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 or derived from proceeds of the conspiracy.

Those included in the arrests and investigation of this case include the ATF, McKinney Police Department, Collin County Sheriff's Office, Greenville Police Department, Hunt County Attorney's Office, Hunt County Constable Pct. 1, Texas DPS, and U.S. Marshals Service.  This case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ernest Gonzalez.

A grand jury indictment is not evidence of guilt.  All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

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