Matt Peterson, Austin Daily Herald, Minn. –
An Albert Lea man who sold drugs to a confidential informant in Austin pleaded guilty Thursday in Mower County Court.
Joaquin Santiago-Estrada, 34, of Albert Lea, pleaded guilty to third-degree drug possession of more than three grams of methamphetamines, a felony. Another felony charge for first-degree drug sale of more than 10 grams of meth within a 90-day period was dismissed.
Officers arranged to meet with Santiago-Estrada on May 2 and purchase the meth from him for $1,600, according to the court complaint. They arrested him soon after Santiago-Estrada allegedly met with the officer at an Austin storage unit, put 84.51 grams of meth in a bicycle helmet and exchanged it for the money.
Santiago-Estrada showed officers a Mexico matricula card and also said he used the name Benjamin Agala Rios to rent the storage unit, according to the complaint.
Santiago-Estrada’s sentencing date has not been set.