Three New Cops Charged in Home Invasion Scheme

Cook County State’s Attorney Richard A. Devine today announced that three more Chicago
Police officers assigned to the Special Operations Section have been arrested and charged with
a number of felonies in a home invasion scheme.

Newly charged were: Frank Villareal, Margaret Hopkins, and James McGovern.  Additional
charges were also placed against three SOS officers who had been charged in connection with the scheme in September.  They are: Jerome Finnigan, Keith Herrera, and Carl Suchocki.

Villareal, 38, faces charges of home invasion (class X), armed violence (class X) and
official misconduct (class 3). 
Hopkins, 32, faces charges of home invasion and official misconduct.
McGovern, 40, faces official misconduct charges.  He appeared in court Monday and was given
a $50,000 bond.

Finnegan, 43, faces new charges of home invasion, official misconduct, armed violence and
residential burglary.

He had already been charged with armed violence (class X), home invasion (class X) (multiple counts), aggravated kidnapping(class X) (multiple counts), delivery of a controlled substance(class X), residential burglary (class 1) (multiple counts), official misconduct (class 3) (multiple counts), communication with a witness (class 3), leaving the scene of an accident (class 3), and false report of a vehicle theft(class 2). If convicted of a class X felony, he could face up to 30 years in prison.

Herrera, 28, faces new charges of home invasion, residential burglary, official misconduct and armed violence.

He was already charged with armed violence (class X), home invasion (class X) (multiple counts), aggravated kidnapping(class X) (multiple counts), delivery of a  controlled substance(class X), residential burglary (class 1), official misconduct (class 3) (multiple counts).  If convicted of a class X felony, he could face up to 30 years in prison.

Suchocki, 32, faces new charges of home invasion and official misconduct.

He was already charged with armed violence (class X), home invasion (class X) (multiple counts), aggravated kidnapping(class X) (multiple counts), delivery of a controlled substance(class X), residential burglary (class 1) (multiple counts), official misconduct (class 3) (multiple counts).  If convicted of a class X felony, he could face up to 30 years in prison.

In September, Thomas Sherry, 32, was charged with armed violence (class X), home invasion
(class X) (multiple counts), aggravated kidnapping(class X) (multiple counts), delivery of a
controlled substance(class X), official misconduct (class 3) (multiple counts).  If convicted of a class X felony, he could face up to 30 years in prison.

All of the alleged incidents took place between December 2003 and November 2005.

These charges result from an investigation by the State’s Attorney’s Special Prosecutions
Bureau and the Chicago Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division.

The investigation continues.

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