Palatine man pleads guilty in hotel meth lab case
A Palatine man arrested in March and charged with running a meth lab in a Grayslake hotel, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a reduced drug charge, authorities said.
Martin P. Bloomberg, 40, pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of methamphetamine manufacturing material in front of Lake County Judge Victoria Rossetti, said Cynthia Vargas, spokeswoman for the Lake County state's attorney's office.
As part of the negotiated plea deal, Bloomberg was sentenced to 18 months of periodic imprisonment, 100 hours of community service, and 30 months of intense probation, Vargas said. Fifteen months of the periodic imprisonment will be stayed and reduced if he performs well on probation and completes his public service hours, she said.
Bloomberg is not allowed to take in any drugs or alcohol, must pass all random drug testing ordered through probation services, and is not allowed to have any contact with any Comfort Suite Inns, Vargas said.
More serious charges of aggravated methamphetamine manufacturing, methamphetamine manufacturing, possession of methamphetamines and possession of a controlled substance, were dropped as part of the negotiated settlement, Vargas said.
Bloomberg was arrested March 28 after authorities received a tip through Crime Stoppers he was running a methamphetamine lab at Comfort Suites Inn at 1775 E. Belvidere Road. Officers confronted and arrested Bloomberg as he walked out of his room, which was guarded by two pit bulls, authorities said.
After obtaining a warrant, authorities searched the room and recovered chemicals used to manufacture methamphetamine, several cooking vessels and small quantities of methamphetamine, authorities said.
Bloomberg had been staying at the room for about a month, and was the only person registered to the room, authorities said.
Agents evacuated the hotel for nearly four hours while police seized the items and cleaned up the room. Guests were moved to another hotel while police quarantined and searched the building.
No one was injured during the arrest, authorities said.
Had Bloomberg been found guilty of the most serious charge at trial, he could have been sentenced to 6 to 30 years in prison.
Bloomberg is also required to pay restitution to Comfort Inn Suites for damages caused at the hotel. The amount will be determined during an Oct. 20 court hearing.