chicago (ap) — 1 one, men told same story: chicago police officer demand money them. , if didn't pay, find in handcuffs drugs stuffed in pockets.
cook county judge on thursday threw out felony drug convictions of 15 black men locked no other reason except refused pay ronald watts.
largest mass exoneration in memory in chicago. , in city has become routine police misconduct lead overturned convictions, courthouse had never seen order issued in front of more dozen men lives changed forever former sergeant.
men described how common blacks in city's poorest communities shaken down.
"everyone knew if you're not going pay watts, going jail. that's way going," said leonard gipson, 36, had 2 convictions tossed out.
practice, recalled, more chilling because officer open it.
"watts told me, 'if you're not going pay me, i'm going you.' , every time ran him, put drugs on me," said. "i went prison , did 24 months watts, , came home , put case on me."
, others said there nothing it. watched watts , crew continue extort drug dealers , residents, practice lasted years, despite complaints police department , statements made during court hearings.
finally, in 2013, watts , officer pleaded guilty stealing money fbi informant, watts' sentence of 22 months shorter being handed out men framed.
thirteen of 15 men out of custody before thursday's hearing, other 2 still behind bars on unrelated charges. sentences ranged decade probation. said reason out of custody agreed plead guilty in exchange shorter sentences drugs planted on them might have produced.
"i had to, had baby due," said 33-year-old marcus watts, pleaded guilty drug charges in exchange six-month sentence , second set of drug charges in exchange seven-month sentence. "the way looked @ if put cuffs on you, lost."
prosecutors asked judge act after conviction-integrity unit of cook county state's attorney's office reviewed cases.
"in conscience not let these convictions stand," said mark rotert, heads unit.
office's agreement throw out sentences part of larger effort regain public trust, said.
in last 2 years, city has seen officer charged in 2014 shooting death of black teenager laquan mcdonald. jason van dyke first chicago officer in decades charged first-degree murder in on-duty killing.
week, prosecutors announced not retry 2 men have long maintained innocence. 1 man spent 29 years in prison double murder insists did not commit. other spent 27 years in prison in double murder case involving officer has had several convictions overturned amid allegations beat suspects , coerced witnesses.
police said late thursday 7 police officers once part of watts' crew have been removed street duties while conduct years ago investigated.
when asked earlier status of officers tied watts, superintendent eddie johnson noted none had been convicted of crime , jobs couldn't taken them arbitrarily.
in cases involving watts, both prosecutors , defense attorneys suggested thursday's order may beginning.
university of chicago's exoneration project examining 12 24 cases, problem larger because watts involved in 1,000 cases , perhaps 500 convictions on 8 years, said joshua tepfer, defense attorney project.
state's attorney spokesman robert foley said prosecutors investigating dozens of other cases , identified pattern suggesting "corrupt activity" involving watts , "members of crew."
chicago has paid more half billion dollars settle police misconduct cases in little more decade.
tepfer not discuss men might next, certainty @ least of them sue city , police department. offered hint lawsuits might contend.
"these convictions stick you," said. "you can't time served. affects ability jobs, housing. thrown off of public aid felony conviction."
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