Galesburg man pleads guilty to federal meth charge

PEORIA - A Galesburg man faces 20 years to life in prison after pleading guilty to federal methamphetamine charges.

The (Peoria) Journal Star reports Steven Cramer pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to manufacture meth. Authorities say he and three others made more than 500 grams of meth in Knox County between 2009 and 2013.

Cramer tells a U.S. district judge he cooked or help cook meth on multiple occasions but he denied selling the drug for profit. He says he helped buy materials and the group produced meth in locations including houses and cornfields.

Lloyd Bell was sentenced to nine years and seven months in prison while Jeremy Epperson received 10 years. A fourth defendant's case is still pending.

Cramer's sentencing range is higher because of a previous felony drug conviction.