Drug charges dropped against 15 imprisoned men in Chicago

A corrupt former Chicago police sergeant prompted prosecutors to drop charges against 15 men Thursday.

The Chicago Tribune reported it is likely the first mass exoneration in Cook County.

The 15 men had 18 criminal drug convictions; the men’s lawyers filed a joint petition two months ago alleging that former Sgt. Ronald Watts and his officers framed the men between 2003 and 2008.

On Tuesday, a man who had been in custody for 26 years was freed after “deep concerns” about his conviction.

On Wednesday, another man was freed after 27 years in prison for a double murder. In that case, five retired police officers indicated they would take the Fifth Amendment rather than testify about how they obtained his confession.

Watts is serving 22 months in prison for police misconduct, the Sun-Times reported.

This story was originally published November 16, 2017 at 11:25 AM with the headline "Drug charges dropped against 15 imprisoned men in Chicago."