Chicago Agrees $90M Settlement Over Corrupt Police Unit
On Sept. 25, 2025, the Chicago City Council approved a $90 million settlement to pay 180 people who say they were falsely arrested, extorted via a "street tax" and had evidence fabricated by a South Side tactical team led by former Sgt. Ronald Watts. The agreement, expected to be paid next year, follows federal prosecutions that began surfacing misconduct in 2012 and guilty pleas by Watts and Officer Kallatt Mohammed for stealing government funds.
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📰 Sources (1)
Chicago to Pay $90 Million to Settle Cases Tied to an Ex-Police Sergeant’s Team
New information:
- Chicago City Council approved a $90 million settlement to resolve claims by 180 alleged victims.
- The payout is expected to be paid in 2026 and comes amid broader city budget pressures (schools, transit, pensions).
- The cases trace to federal investigations beginning in 2012; former Sgt. Ronald Watts and Officer Kallatt Mohammed pleaded guilty to theft-related charges (Watts received a federal prison term — caption notes 22 months).