Pull to refresh
Logo
What Changed
Following Why Sign Up
Chicago approves $260.8 million settlement for 17 men framed by ex-detective

Chicago approves $260.8 million settlement for 17 men framed by ex-detective

Money Moves Chicago, IL local

Largest police misconduct payout in U.S. history; 25 Guevara lawsuits remain

October 14th, 2026: City Council approves $260.8 million settlement

Overview

Updated Oct 21

The Chicago City Council voted unanimously on Oct. 14 to pay $260.8 million to 17 men framed by former detective Reynaldo Guevara. The men spent a combined 383 years in prison. City lawyers said a jury trial could have cost more than $1 billion.

The deal covers 16 lawsuits, but 25 Guevara cases remain, including two in settlement talks. The city has spent more than $473 million resolving cases tied to Guevara, and 43 people have been exonerated in cases he handled. The settlement is paid in installments in 2027 and 2028.

Why it matters

Chicago taxpayers now owe $260.8 million, and 25 unresolved Guevara lawsuits could push the bill higher.

Last Monday's email for Chicago, IL

Sent Nov 9. It carried:

Get next Monday's: one short email a week. Free. Unsubscribe in one click.

Questions about this story

Free account needed to ask — your question is kept and asked for you right after sign-up. Answers are public.

No questions yet — be the first to ask.

Key Indicators

$260.8 million
Settlement amount
Paid to 17 men in installments in 2027 and 2028.
383 years
Combined years in prison
Total time served by the 17 plaintiffs before exoneration.
25
Pending lawsuits naming Guevara
Remaining federal cases, including two in settlement talks.
$473 million
Total cost to resolve Guevara cases
Includes verdicts, settlements and defense fees so far.
43
People exonerated in Guevara cases
People exonerated after murder convictions in cases Guevara handled, as of October 2026.

Voices

Curated perspectives — historical figures and your fellow readers.

Sign up to generate historical perspectives on this story.

Log in Sign Up

People Involved

RG
Reynaldo Guevara
Former Chicago Police detective
Retired, lives in Texas, collects $91,000 annual pension
 Brandon Johnson
Brandon Johnson
Mayor of Chicago
In office; said he would explore changing state law to deny Guevara his pension if re-elected
SA
Steve Art
Partner at Loevy & Loevy
Represents all 17 plaintiffs
 Antonio Spraggs
Antonio Spraggs
Plaintiff and exoneree
Settled; served 23 years of a 59-year sentence
TW
Tyrece Williams
Plaintiff and exoneree
Settled; served 20 years

Organizations Involved

Chicago City Council
Chicago City Council
Municipal legislature
Approved the $260.8 million settlement unanimously

The 50-member council votes on city budgets, contracts, and legal settlements.
Chicago Police Department
Chicago Police Department
Municipal Police Department
Under federal consent decree since 2019

CPD has a history of misconduct, including torture under Jon Burge and Guevara's framing cases.
Loevy & Loevy
Loevy & Loevy
Law firm
Represents all 17 plaintiffs in the settlement

A Chicago firm known for civil rights and police misconduct litigation.

Timeline

January 1987 October 2026

7 events Latest: October 14th, 2026 · 4 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. City Council approves $260.8 million settlement

    Latest Legal

    Full council votes unanimously to pay 17 plaintiffs framed by Guevara. City lawyers said trial risk could have topped $1 billion.

  2. Johnson says he would explore stripping Guevara's pension

    Policy

    After the vote, Mayor Brandon Johnson told reporters he would look at changing state law to deny Guevara his police pension if re-elected. Only a felony conviction tied to his job can currently cost an officer a pension, a city lawyer said.

  3. Finance Committee approves settlement

    Policy

    The council's finance panel unanimously OKs the $260.8 million deal.

  4. Judge finds Guevara lied under oath

    Legal

    A judge rules Guevara told 'bald-faced lies' in a civil case, damaging the city's defense in later suits.

  5. City orders investigation into Guevara

    Investigation

    Mayor Rahm Emanuel's administration commissions a report on Guevara's conduct; it is never released.

  6. Guevara retires from CPD

    Career event

    Retires after 32 years on the force, begins collecting pension.

  7. First wrongful convictions begin

    Legal

    Guevara begins framing suspects in Humboldt Park; cases that will later be overturned date from this year.

Scenarios

1

City settles remaining 25 Guevara lawsuits in 2027

Likely Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: WTTW and city officials

After this mass settlement, the city may seek to resolve all remaining cases to avoid further jury risk. Two settlements are already awaiting council approval. Mayor Johnson's 2027 budget sets aside $401 million for litigation costs, signaling an intention to settle rather than try cases.

2

Jury awards massive verdict in a remaining Guevara case

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: City lawyers and plaintiffs' attorneys

If the city decides to fight a case and loses, a jury could award damages exceeding $100 million, given the 2017 perjury finding and clear evidence of framing. This would pressure the city to settle everything quickly and could bankrupt the police settlement fund.

3

Criminal charges filed against Guevara

Unlikely Resolves by Jan 1, 2028

Discussed by: Legal experts, unlikely given lack of prior action

Despite overwhelming evidence, Guevara has never faced charges. He has invoked the Fifth Amendment and lives out of state. A federal or state prosecutor would need to act on the existing record, but statutes of limitation and the political difficulty of prosecuting a retired officer make this remote.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1972–1991

Jon Burge Torture Cases (1972–1991)

Chicago Police Commander Jon Burge and his crew tortured more than 100 Black men, mostly from the South Side, to extract false confessions using electric shocks and other methods. Dozens were wrongfully convicted, and some spent decades in prison.

Then

Burge was fired in 1993, convicted of perjury and obstruction of justice in 2010, and sentenced to 4.5 years. The city paid over $100 million in settlements.

Now

The cases exposed systemic torture within CPD and led to Illinois abolishing the death penalty in 2011.

Why this matters now

Like Guevara, Burge was an officer who fabricated evidence for years, costing the city millions. The two scandals show a pattern of unchecked misconduct in CPD's detective division.

1999–2000

LAPD Rampart Scandal (1999)

Members of the LAPD's anti-gang CRASH unit, particularly Rafael Pérez, planted evidence and even shot unarmed suspects. Pérez framed dozens of men, some of whom were exonerated after years in prison.

Then

LAPD paid over $125 million in settlements, and over 100 convictions were overturned. The department entered a federal consent decree.

Now

The scandal led to significant reforms, including the creation of an inspector general and civilian oversight.

Why this matters now

Both cases involve single officers whose actions produced dozens of wrongful convictions and massive settlements. They highlight how corruption can persist without detection for years.

Sources

(8)
+2
Chicago Sun-Times Univision Chicago WGBO Loevy & Loevy WTTW News CBS Chicago City of Chicago Axios Chicago Chicago Sun-Times