Two individuals pleaded guilty to felony drug sale charges as part of plea agreements on Thursday in Mower County District Court.

The charges came from separate incidents involving sales to confidential police informants (CRIs).

Amanda Ray Gilles

Amanda Ray Gilles, 33, of Austin pleaded guilty to felony second-degree drugs-sale of 10 grams or more of a narcotic other than heroin.

A charge of felony first-degree drugs-sale of 17 grams or more of methamphetamine within a 90-day period and a second charge of felony second-degree drugs-sale of 10 grams or more of a narcotic other than heroin will be dismissed at the sentencing as part of the agreement.

According to the court complaint, narcotics detectives met with a CRI on Dec. 5, 2017, about purchasing half an ounce of methamphetamine from Gilles. The CRI and his vehicle were searched and he was provided with buy money and an audio recording device. Detectives monitored the CRI as he drove to the Shopko parking lot, where a white Ford Taurus met him. The CRI got into the Taurus, purchased methamphetamine from Gilles, then returned to his car and left the parking lot. He met the detectives at a predetermined location and surrendered 14 grams of methamphetamine.

The following day, the detectives again met with the CRI, who advised them that Gilles had agreed to sell him more methamphetamine. The CRI and his vehicle were again searched and he was again given buy money and an audio recording device. The CRI was then monitored as he drove to the parking lot of Dollar Tree, where the Ford Taurus met him 30 minutes later. Gilles was observed entering the CRI’s vehicle, then exiting and going into the Dollar Tree. The CRI then met with the detectives and surrendered 14.1 grams of methamphetamine.

A review of Gilles’ criminal record shows a prior conviction for domestic assault.

Gilles will be sentenced on March 28.

Simon Lera

Simon Ponciano Lera, 41, of Austin also pleaded guilty to felony second-degree sales of 10 grams or more of a narcotic other than heroin within a 90-day period.

Three counts of felony third-degree drugs-sale of a narcotic will be dismissed at the sentencing as part of the agreement.

According to the court complaint, narcotics detectives met with a confidential reliable informant (CRI) on March 13, 2018, about purchasing methamphetamine from Lera. The CRI was searched and provided with buy money and an audio transmitter. He then met Lera at his residence in the 900 block of Second Avenue Northeast and purchased 3.44 grams of methamphetamine, which he then surrendered to the police.

The CRI made another purchase from Lera later that day for 3.164 grams of methamphetamine. He also arranged purchases on March 22 and May 1 for 6.973 grams and 0.896 grams of methamphetamine, respectively.

Lera will be sentenced at a later date.