Two Galesburg, Illinois, men, Juan Pablo Garcia, also known as “Chewy,” and Edgar Calderon, also known as “Lil Man,” were sentenced on June 15, 2026, for their roles in a large-scale conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine. Garcia received a 40-year prison sentence followed by 10 years of supervised release, while Calderon was sentenced to 27.5 years in prison and five years of supervised release.
Evidence presented at their jury trial revealed that from spring through fall 2024, Garcia and Calderon conspired to transport kilograms of methamphetamine and cocaine from Texas to Galesburg for distribution. Law enforcement conducted multiple controlled buys from Garcia and one from Calderon. A traffic stop in Nacogdoches County, Texas, linked to the conspiracy, resulted in the seizure of approximately 9.8 kilograms of methamphetamine and 3 kilograms of cocaine.
U.S. District Judge Sara Darrow, during the sentencing hearing, found that firearms were possessed during the conspiracy and that both men tampered with witnesses. Judge Darrow also noted that Garcia created a substantial risk of death or serious bodily injury by fleeing from officers. The Court emphasized the devastation caused by methamphetamine and the positive impact of removing such large-scale traffickers from the Galesburg community.
Robert Joseph Strong, another Galesburg resident involved in the conspiracy, pleaded guilty earlier and received a sentence of 240 months of imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release. The investigation involved the Knox County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI Springfield Field Office, Galesburg Police Department, Nacogdoches County Sheriff’s Department, and the Drug Enforcement Administration.