Christopher William Crawford, a 32-year-old resident of Peoria, Illinois, was sentenced on January 7, 2026, to ten years in federal prison for distributing more than 50 grams of methamphetamine on two separate occasions. The sentence includes concurrent terms for each count and will be followed by five years of supervised release. Additionally, Crawford is required to pay a $200 special assessment fee. The court ordered that his federal sentence run concurrently with any term imposed in Peoria County Circuit Court.
Evidence presented at the sentencing hearing indicated that in September 2024, Crawford sold controlled substances twice in the Peoria area. On both occasions, law enforcement determined the drugs were “ice” methamphetamine. In total, authorities attributed at least 174.2 grams of ice methamphetamine to Crawford’s distribution activities.
Crawford was indicted and arrested in October 2024 and pleaded guilty in March 2025.
According to statutory guidelines, distributing more than 50 grams of actual methamphetamine carries a mandatory minimum sentence of ten years up to life imprisonment and up to five years of supervised release.
The investigation was conducted by the Peoria Area Federal Firearms Task Force—which includes agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Peoria Police Department; the Peoria County Sheriff’s Department; Illinois Department of Corrections; and Illinois State Police—with assistance from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Assistant U.S. Attorney Melissa P. Ortiz prosecuted the case.
