A Chicago police officer is currently under investigation by department officials due to his connections with Jawad Fakroune, a man accused of extortion and a convicted felon with a Moroccan background. Fakroune has gained notoriety for allegedly posing as a relative of infamous drug lord Pablo Escobar, and recently faced legal troubles related to an extortion scheme involving a Lincoln Park restaurant owner.
In January, Fakroune was arrested and charged with using threats and violence to demand $1.5 million from the restaurant owner, claiming it was a debt he was owed.
This month, information about the officer’s ties to Fakroune surfaced in a court filing where federal prosecutors requested that a judge keep Fakroune incarcerated until his trial, citing the accused as both dangerous and a flight risk.
According to the prosecutors, the officer revealed to the FBI that he had left firearms at a residence linked to Fakroune in the Chicago area. The officer alleged that Fakroune did not return the weapons, which were later recovered during an FBI raid conducted on December 18 in a Manhattan home where Fakroune was residing.
Despite the officer’s report claiming the guns were stolen, prosecutors indicated that certain details in this report were false. The narrative suggests that Fakroune misled law enforcement during a recorded post-arrest interview on January 18, 2025, regarding the firearms in question.
While the government’s court filing did not specify the officer’s identity, referring to him as “Individual A,” Fakroune’s attorney, Damon Cheronis, later confirmed in his own court documents that Individual A is indeed a Chicago police officer.
Cheronis portrayed the officer as someone with significant issues, alleging that he is a heavy drinker and prone to dishonesty, stating, “Individual A, a Chicago Police Officer, sat down for a proffer, told the government that he reported the guns stolen, but failed to disclose that the police report he filed included lies.” He continued, noting that there were “inconsistencies” in the officer’s statements to the FBI.
In addition to his questionable actions regarding the firearms, the officer also had a relationship with the restaurant owner whom Fakroune is accused of extorting, although neither the owner nor the Lincoln Park establishment has been publicly identified.
Fakroune allegedly assaulted the restaurant owner on November 21, even threatening to kill him and his family if the demanded payment was not made. Cheronis claims the two men had been business partners.
Cheronis further disputed various claims made against Fakroune by prosecutors, arguing that although numerous individuals have accused him of aggressive behavior, there have been no arrests made in connection with these allegations. He questioned the credibility of the prosecutors’ claims about Fakroune’s supposed attempts to position himself as Pablo Escobar’s son, suggesting this should not warrant a conclusion that he poses a threat to society.
Amid these legal developments, a spokesperson for the Chicago Police Department confirmed that an internal investigation into the unidentified officer’s involvement with Fakroune has been initiated but did not provide details. The spokesperson stated that, “There is an open log on this matter so we have no further information to provide.”
Prosecutors maintain that Fakroune is a flight risk, citing the discovery of multiple fake identifications and $191,000 in cash during the FBI raid of his New York residence. They also pointed out that Fakroune managed to evade law enforcement from the time of the December 18 raid until his capture in Michigan City, Indiana, about a month later.
In a motion filed by Cheronis, he contested the idea that Fakroune was too much of a risk to release before trial, offering that conditions could be established to prevent any potential flight. He requested that his client be allowed to remain at home while awaiting trial to facilitate his review of the substantial documentation related to the case, a motion currently pending consideration.
Finally, the case has also drawn attention to political circles, with reports earlier this year indicating that Lisa Duarte, a well-known lobbyist and former aide to Governor JB Pritzker, has been cooperating with investigators regarding Fakroune’s alleged activities. Duarte has faced scrutiny for having paid the property taxes on Fakroune’s home in Lemont, but her attorney stated that she is not accused of any wrongdoing.
Duarte voiced her belief in April that her involvement was minor in comparison to the broader context of victimization related to Fakroune’s actions.
image source from：chicago
