Associated Press - May 28, 2009 7:54 AM ET

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - The former owner of a custom motorcycle shop that went bankrupt has pleaded guilty to mail fraud.

Forty-1-year-old Chip Miyler of Creve Coeur pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Peoria Wednesday.

Miyler owned Mid-West Choppers in Galesburg until October 2005. That's when he, his wife and the business all filed for bankruptcy.

He was accused of taking money and motorcycles from two-dozen customers in exchange for payments on custom-made bikes and instead using the money for personal gain. Authorities also allege Miyler sold off motorcycles he claimed he had on hand in an application for a bank loan.

Officials with the U.S. attorney's office say Miyler could face up to 30 years in prison when he's sentenced Sept. 10.

Information from: Will Stevenson, WGIL-AM, http://wgil.com/

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.