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Monday, March 24, 2025

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Former State's Attorney Kim Foxx's legacy lives on with $120 million wrongful conviction lawsuit payout

A federal judge awarded the largest wrongful conviction settlement in the nation at $120 million to John Fulton and Anthony Mitchell for the 2003 murder of 18-year-old Christopher Collazo. Each had spent 16 years in prison until a judge threw out their convictions on their claims of police misconduct, with former Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx then dropping all charges – as she had done in dozens of other cases over her eight years running the office.

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 24, 2025

ICE deports Sierra Leonean with ties to terrorist groups 17 years after arrest

U.S. Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE) has deported an illegal immigrant

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 14, 2025

Latest News

Medium paulvallas

Chicago remains nation's murder capital as the 'criminal industrial complex' churns on

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 14, 2025

Murder rates in Chicago over 2024 show that the Windy City has kept its crown as the murder capital of the nation, according to a Wirepoints study that compared Chicago’s murder rates against those of 74 other large American cities.

Medium jackiewilson

Disciplinary complaint likely against Loevy & Loevy attorney in criminal case against two former prosecutors

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 11, 2025

A Lake County judge who in February acquitted two former assistant state’s attorneys

Medium nicktrutenko

'Show me the man and I’ll show you the crime' nearly pulled off in case against former prosecutors Trutenko and Horvat

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 11, 2025

A little noticed, but enormously consequential, acquittal verdict in a criminal case against two former Cook County Assistant State’s Attorneys (ASAs) might have spared prosecutors everywhere from being targeted with trumped-up criminal charges based on unsubstantiated allegations of misconduct

Medium download

No word from Burke’s office on whether it will retry an exonerated Alexander Villa for murder of off-duty police officer

By W.J. Kennedy | Mar 5, 2025

Alexander Villa, convicted of the 2011 murder of off-duty police officer Clifton Lewis, has filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming his 2019 conviction was the result of a scheme by prosecutors and police to manufacturer evidence against him.

Medium jfabb

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson will have a lot of explaining to do when he appears before the U.S. House Oversight Committee in Washington D.C. in March

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 18, 2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been steadfast in his defense

Medium dreed

City Council committee bails on payout to the family of Dexter Reed

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 14, 2025

On Monday, Chicago City Council’s Finance Committee abruptly canceled a vote to approve a $1.25 million payout to the family of Dexter Reed, the 26-year-old shot dead by police last March in Humboldt Park.

Medium kimfoxx

Federal judge orders police defendant in Jose Cruz wrongful conviction case to provide sample handwriting

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 10, 2025

A federal judge has ordered one of the police defendants named in the wrongful conviction lawsuit of Jose Cruz, convicted of a 1993 murder, to provide a handwriting sample for an analysis by an expert chosen by Cruz’s legal team.

Medium nevest coleman

Convicted murderer withdraws some claims against Chicago detectives, prosecutors in wrongful conviction suit

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 7, 2025

Exonerated murderer Nevest Coleman has backtracked on some of his claims against Chicago detectives in his wrongful conviction suit in federal court, a move one legal analyst called “very good” for Chicago police who have been named in dozens of questionable wrongful conviction suits over the past 10 years.

Medium dondrew

Suspect in Norwood Park murder could have been in federal custody, but for the city’s sanctuary law

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 6, 2025

Absent a sanctuary law in Chicago, the Ecuadorian national charged in the Jan. 26 murder of Norwood Park resident George Levin would likely have been in federal custody at the time of the murder.

Medium pritzker

Vicente Torres-Vasquez should have big target on his back for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 6, 2025

Vicente Torres-Vasquez’s criminal past should place him high on the list for deportation back to his native Mexico under the Trump administration’s immigration directives to deport those who are a threat to the public.

Medium brandon

City’s sanctuary law puts unnecessary strain on investigation into Norwood Park murder

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 5, 2025

If the Chicago police were permitted to cooperate with federal immigration agents, they could turn two illegals, a Venezuelan and Ecuadorian, they are questioning in the Jan. 26 murder of a Norwood Park man over for detention while they gather more evidence in the case.

Medium awakeillionis

Criticism mounts after CPD accused of suppressing questions on immigration status of suspects in Levin murder

By Chicago City Wire reports | Feb 4, 2025

A recent briefing by Chicago Police Department (CPD) officials on the investigation into the brutal murder of 63-year-old George Levin in Norwood Park has sparked controversy after an alderman’s question about the suspects' immigration status was allegedly swiftly shut down.

Medium georgelevin

Illegal alien suspect in Norwood Park murder was reportedly wearing GPS tracking device at time of crime

By Chicago City Wire reports | Feb 1, 2025

An illegal alien arrested in connection with the brutal murder of 63-year-old George Levin in Norwood Park was reportedly wearing a GPS tracking device at the time of the crime, a source familiar with the case told Chicago City Wire.

Medium arturoreyesandgabrielsolache

City attorneys reject constitutional rights violation claims of convicted murderers

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 31, 2025

City attorneys are rejecting a motion by lawyers for Gabriel Solache and Arturo DeLeon-Reyes, convicted of a 1998 double murder, for a summary judgment in their wrongful conviction case on charges that the city’s policies and practices violated their constitutional rights (Monell claims) in their alleged wrongful prosecution.

Medium chicagomayorcandidatebrandonjohnson

Mayor Johnson faces heat from two sides over promise to protect illegals from deportation

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 30, 2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has been called to Washington to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, chaired by James Comer, R-KY, on February 11, and to turn over all documents and communications to Chicago’s sanctuary policies.

Medium superintendent1643

Chicago Police Data: Amercian Indians or Alaska Natives made up 0.1% of city arrests during 2024's fourth quarter

By Chicago City Wire | Jan 24, 2025

Amercian Indian or Alaska Native arrests made up 0.1% of the 11,568 arrests registered in Chicago during the fourth quarter of 2024.

Medium teddabrowski

Gang-related crimes and murders of kids continue to plague Chicago

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 23, 2025

Two new studies show that Chicago continues to be vexed by gang-related crimes and the murders of those 19 and under.

Medium superintendent1643

Unknowns make up 0.3% of Chicago arrests in 2024 Q4

By Chicago City Wire | Jan 23, 2025

Unknown arrests made up 0.3% of the 11,568 arrests registered in Chicago during the fourth quarter of 2024.