Men arrested after selling half a pound of meth to investigators in Lincoln

LINCOLN, Nebraska (KOLN) – Authorities arrested two men Monday as part of a coordinated drug raid outside a Lincoln grocery store.

Nathaniel Stephenson and Alfredo Dominguez III, both 27, were arrested in a parking lot near West A Street and South Coddington Avenue. They now face drug trafficking and weapons charges.

The Lincoln Lancaster County Drug Enforcement Unit had been investigating the men since June. According to an affidavit, investigators purchased significant amounts of methamphetamine from Stephenson while Dominguez III watched.

According to court documents, investigators purchased 235 grams of methamphetamine from Stephenson three times between June 11 and June 17. Police say Dominguez III was present at each of the transactions.

A month passed before authorities contacted Stephenson again to arrange another meeting. On Monday, authorities said they had arranged a meeting to buy a quarter pound of methamphetamine for $1,000.

Investigators encountered Stephenson and Dominguez III in the parking lot near Russ’s Market and took them into custody around 4:10 p.m. Before their arrest, police said Dominguez III threw a backpack near the vehicle they arrived in.

Authorities searched the vehicle and discovered 12.2 grams of marijuana and 217.9 grams of THC hashish, records show. They also found a Glock 17 9mm pistol with 17 rounds in the backpack, as well as a black mask and several personal items belonging to Dominguez III, investigators wrote.

No methamphetamine was found in the vehicle, but a plastic bag full of dryer sheets and gravel was found. Officers believe Stephenson hoped to pass the bag off as a quarter pound of methamphetamine.

An affidavit states that Dominguez III was convicted of aggravated robbery in 2014, which makes it a felony for him to possess a firearm.

Both men were arraigned on their respective charges on Tuesday. Stephenson’s bail was set at 10% of $400,000 and Dominguez III’s bail was set at 10% of $200,000.

The men are expected back in court on August 22.

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