Two Chicago police officers arrested for stealing cash www.privateofficer.com

 

 

Chicago IL Feb 16 2012 Chicago police sergeant Ronald Watts, 48, an 18-year police veteran and Kallatt Mohammed, 47, who joined the department 14 years ago, both of Chicago, were arrested February 12th on federal charges alleging that they stole $5,200 in government undercover funds from a cooperating individual who they believed was transporting the cash for drug dealers. Both were assigned to a 2nd District tactical team, each were charged with one count of theft of government funds in a criminal complaint that was unsealed yesterday in U.S. District Court.

The arrests and charges were announced by Patrick J. Fitzgerald, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois; Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation; and Superintendent Garry F. McCarthy of the Chicago Police Department. The police department’s Internal Affairs Division participated in the investigation.

On Nov. 21, 2011, after a Cooperating Witness (CS5) working with the FBI, who was unknown by Watts and Mohammed, told the police officers that he/she was a narcotics traffickers who transferred drug funds from on location to another. In a surveillance video-recording FBI agents observed Officer Mohammed, driving his personal auto, approached CS5 in the 2700 block of South Vernon taking a bag containing $5,200 from CS5. Later, the officers paid CS5 $400 for allowing them to steal the drug proceeds, the charges allege.

According to the complaint affidavit, FBI also have recorded phone conversations of Watts being told by CS5 of drug money pick ups and between Watts and Mohammed coordinating the stealing of the drug money and meets to portion out the money. The theft of government funds carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Both, Watts and Mohammed were released on $10,000 unsecured bonds after appearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Maria Valdez in Federal Court. A status hearing was scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Feb.21.