Two Galesburg men involved in a large-scale methamphetamine and cocaine trafficking operation have been sentenced in federal court following an investigation led by the Knox County Sheriff’s Office.
On June 15, 2026, Juan Pablo Garcia, also known as “Chewy,” was sentenced to 40 years in federal prison followed by 10 years of supervised release. Edgar Calderon, also known as “Lil Man,” was sentenced to 27.5 years in federal prison followed by 5 years of supervised release.
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office conducted the primary investigation, identifying and targeting a drug trafficking organization responsible for transporting significant quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine from Texas into Knox County and the surrounding area for distribution. Throughout the investigation, Knox County Sheriff’s Office investigators conducted numerous investigative activities that resulted in the collection of evidence used to secure federal convictions.
The investigation was conducted with assistance from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Drug Enforcement Administration, Galesburg Police Department, and the Nacogdoches County (Texas) Sheriff’s Department. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois.
Sheriff Jack Harlan Jr. stated:
“Drug dealers profit from addiction while leaving families, neighborhoods, and entire communities to deal with the consequences. Methamphetamine and other illegal narcotics fuel crime, destroy lives, and create lasting harm throughout our county. The Knox County Sheriff’s Office remains committed to aggressively investigating those responsible for trafficking drugs into our communities. Our goal is to continue identifying, targeting, and removing these individuals from our streets to make Knox County a safer place for everyone who lives here.”
The Knox County Sheriff’s Office extends its appreciation to its local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, as well as the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of Illinois, for their assistance in bringing this investigation to a successful conclusion.
***Courtesy of the Knox County Sheriff’s Office Facebook Page***
