Denton police narcotics officers say they’ve smashed a family business marijuana distribution ring in Denton and Denton County and arrested seven suspects.

David Berna

Charley Castillo

Narcotics Sgt. Daryn Briggs said ring members were distributing between 10 and 30 pounds of the leafy controlled substance a week but that their incarceration probably won’t make a major impact on the marijuana trade in the area.

“There’s just so much available,” Briggs said. “This will make an impact, but it won’t shut down the trade.”

Paul Castillo

David Lira

With the help of Denton and Denton County tactical teams and city and county animal control officers, the narcotics in­vestigators raided an apartment in the Village East complex and a house on Jane Long Road in the county. Briggs said they seized 12 pounds of marijuana and 10 grams of ecstasy.

“These people were selling to street-level dealers,” he said.

The group apparently was not growing the illegal plant but buying it in bulk from higher-level dealers. When purchased in large quantities, marijuana sells for about $400 to $450 a pound, he said.

Vanessa Lira

George Lopez

Police narcotics investigator Frank Pad­gett was the lead investigator on the case. He estimated that the group has been operating in the Denton area for about a year. They formerly worked out of a residence in the 1100 block of Sierra Drive, Briggs said.

“They used the Village East location as both a storage and a distribution point,” he said.

Paulino “Paul” Castillo, 23, was the main target of the investigation, the sergeant said. His girlfriend, Erica Marie Owens, 18, and his brother, Charley Juan Castillo, 18, were also active participants in the distribution of marijuana, he said. Also ar­rested were David Berna, 52, who is Owens’ father; George Anthony Lopez, 18, and David Lira Jr., 31, and his wife, Va­nessa Lira, 30.

Erica Owens

Paul Castillo, Charley Castillo and Erica Owens were all charged with possession of marijuana, over 5 pounds, less than 50 pounds.

George An­thony Lopez was charged with possession of marijuana, over 4 ounces, less than 5 pounds; and manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance, penalty group 2, over 4 grams, less than 400 grams.

David Berna, David Lira Jr. and Vanessa Lira were charged with possession of marijuana, less than 2 ounces.

Animal control officers seized 15 dogs at the Jane Long Road location. Briggs said they took the 14 pit bulls and one Chihuahua into protective custody.

“We don’t believe the pit bulls were being raised to fight,” he said. “They were being raised to sell. But there was no one left at the house to care for them.”

DONNA FIELDER can be reached at 940-566-6885. Her e-mail address is dfielder@dentonrc.com .