Chicago Watchdog Uncovers Widespread PPP Loan Fraud by Police Officers

Inspector General Deborah Witzburg says 17 Chicago cops scammed COVID relief funds, with 8 facing termination

Apr. 15, 2026 at 7:26pm

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An extreme close-up of a crumpled, discarded PPP loan application form, the harsh lighting and stark black background conveying a sense of wrongdoing and the serious consequences of abusing public trust.The harsh glare of a police investigation exposes the fraud and abuse of COVID-19 relief funds by those sworn to protect the public.Chicago Today

Chicago's Inspector General Deborah Witzburg has uncovered widespread Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan fraud by Chicago police officers, with 17 cops identified as having scammed a total of $284,000 in COVID-19 relief funds. Eight of the officers are now facing termination, while another cop quit during the investigation. Witzburg says the department has agreed to seek the firing of the eight currently employed officers, and her office is waiting for the department to respond to eight other PPP fraud cases they have sustained.

Why it matters

The revelation of widespread PPP loan fraud by Chicago police officers is a significant breach of public trust, as these officers are expected to uphold the law and serve the community. The Inspector General's office has prioritized these cases because police officers occupy positions of tremendous public trust, and their credibility is of paramount importance when they testify in court.

The details

According to Witzburg's first-quarter 2026 report, the alleged PPP loan ripoffs by the 17 Chicago police officers totaled $284,000. The Inspector General's office has flagged more than 1,000 potential instances of PPP fraud by city employees, including police officers, firefighters, and others. Witzburg is urging City Hall to blacklist all of the officers involved from ever being rehired by the department.

  • In the first four months of 2026, Witzburg's office has nailed nine Chicago cops for allegedly scamming COVID-19 relief funds.
  • Back in 2023, Witzburg's office flagged more than 1,000 potential instances of PPP fraud by city employees, including police officers, firefighters and others.
  • Late last year, Witzburg reported that her office found two sergeants and another officer engaged in PPP fraud, with one officer snagging an $18,000 loan for an insurance business that didn't exist.

The players

Deborah Witzburg

The Inspector General of Chicago, who is heading for the exit but not before dropping one last fraud bombshell on the Chicago Police Department.

Torrey Price and Aaron Price

Former Chicago police officers who are facing criminal charges in a separate federal investigation for raking in more than $2 million by filing roughly 100 bogus loan applications tied to PPP and another federal aid program.

Jareli Reyes

A Cook County jail guard who was charged with PPP fraud but acquitted by a Cook County judge at a bench trial last year.

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What they’re saying

“This was a triage effort and we are not done yet. The reason we prioritized CPD cases is because they occupy positions of tremendous public trust and they land on the witness stand, so their credibility is of paramount importance.”

— Deborah Witzburg, Inspector General of Chicago

“You don't get to defraud the government and work for the government.”

— Deborah Witzburg, Inspector General of Chicago

What’s next

The police department has agreed to seek the firing of the eight currently employed officers Witzburg identified in her latest quarterly report. Her office is waiting for CPD to respond to eight other PPP fraud cases that Witzburg sustained.

The takeaway

The revelation of widespread PPP loan fraud by Chicago police officers is a serious breach of public trust, as these officers are expected to uphold the law and serve the community. The Inspector General's office has prioritized these cases because of the importance of police credibility in the justice system, and the city must take strong action to address this issue and restore public confidence.