ALEDO -- A tip from an Aledo store led to five men being charged with methamphetamine-related offenses Monday in Mercer County Circuit Court.

The charges stem from a traffic stop that Mercer County sheriff's deputies made Friday, according to the sheriff's department.

Deputies received a call Friday from the Aledo Wal-Mart that a man had purchased his limit of Sudafed, which can be used for producing methamphetamine.

Since 2006, Illinois law has required people buying nonprescription medications such as Sudafed and Claritin D that contain pseudoephedrine to show picture ID and sign a logbook. People also are limited in how much medicine containing pseudoephedrine they can buy at one time and per month.

The man's vehicle was stopped in Joy. The driver, Thomas M. Dale, 46, of New Boston, faces charges of unlawful possession of methamphetamine precursors, unlawful possession of methamphetamine manufacturing materials and unlawful methamphetamine conspiracy.

Facing similar charges are Douglas L. White, 43, New Boston; Jason R. Smith, 27, New Boston; and John R. Tisor, 39, and Timothy P. Railey, 35, both of Oakville, Iowa.

Each defendant knowingly had less than 15 grams of Sudafed in his possession with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, according to an affidavit filed in Mercer County Circuit Court.

They also had coffee filters and batteries, which are methamphetamine manufacturing materials, according to the affidavit.

Mr. Railey was released on his own recognizance Monday after his attorney, David Zwicker, argued that he never had been charged previously and was a passenger in the vehicle.

Mr. Railey's preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 29. A judgment of up to $100,000 can be entered against him if he fails to appear in court.

Bail for Mr. Tisor was set at $125,000. He was in the Mercer County Jail late Monday.

Arraignment and bail review hearings for Mr. Smith, Mr. White and Mr. Dale are this afternoon.

Bail for Mr. Smith and Mr. White is currently $50,000, and for Mr. Dale is $150,000.

All three remained in the Mercer County Jail late Monday.

The Aledo Police Department assisted deputies with the case.