Schaumburg settles another police corruption lawsuit

The Schaumburg village board approved a $15,000 settlement Tuesday with a resident who sued the village in federal court over claims that a pair of corrupt police officers framed her on drug charges.

Under the terms of the settlement with Jessica Elsayed, the village admits no wrongdoing by the village or its employees, but instead states that a settlement is in the town's best interests.

Elsayed sued the village in October 2014, claiming she had been wrongfully arrested and prosecuted for possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver by former Schaumburg police officers Matthew Hudak and Terrance O'Brien. They, along with fellow former officer John Cichy, were arrested on drug- and corruption-related charges in January 2013.

Since then, the village has paid out about $200,000 to settle at least 11 lawsuits filed by former criminal defendants as a result of the officers' actions.

Hudak and O'Brien were sentenced to 26 and 24 years in prison, respectively, after pleading guilty. Cichy is awaiting trial.