Freeborn County District Court Judge Steve Schwab sentenced three Albert Lea residents to time in prison Thursday for selling methamphetamine to undercover officers on separate occasions.

The following are the sentences each received:

 

Thomas Lee Tuttle

Schwab sentenced Thomas Lee Tuttle, 32, to five years and seven months in the St. Cloud prison.

Tuttle was convicted of second-degree meth sales for selling 25 grams of crystal meth to an undercover officer on March 26 when the officer, an informant and Tuttle went on a drive in the area of Ramsey and Pillsbury streets.

The meth reportedly sold for $1,800, according to court documents.

Police arrested Tuttle after serving a search warrant at 615 Pillsbury Ave. following the sale.

He will receive credit for 156 days already spent in the Freeborn County jail.

 

Melyssa Ellen Dominguez

The judge sentenced Melyssa Ellen Dominguez, 23, to four years in the Shakopee prison for selling 7 grams of meth on March 14.

The sentence came after Dominguez in June pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree meth sales. She had initially faced a second count of second-degree meth sales, along with one count of first-degree meth sales, but those charges were dismissed.

According to court documents, the sale took place in the parking lot of Nelson’s Market Place.

Dominguez exchanged the drug for the money in the deputy’s car, while her husband, Gabriel Dominguez-Espinoza, waited in the other car with a baby. He was sentenced to four years in prison last week for aiding and abetting a sale.

She will receive credit for 160 days already served in jail.

 

Juan Antonio Esparza-Martinez

Like Dominguez, Schwab sentenced Juan Antonio Esparza-Martinez, 35, to four years in the St. Cloud prison after Esparza-Martinez pleaded guilty in June to one count of second-degree meth sales. The charge was in connection to the Aug. 16, 2012, sale of 28 grams of the drug at the former Lagos Repair shop, 1517 S.E. Broadway.

He had initially faced four counts of first-degree meth sales tied to three sales in August and October of 2012; however, the remaining counts were dismissed.

He said in court in June he sold the meth to make money for bills.

He will receive credit for 378 days already spent in jail.