Dodge County Sheriff Sues Woman Over Alleged False ICE Detention Claims

Sheriff says evidence shows woman was never at his detention facility, claims she scammed someone in pursuit of 'hoax'

Apr. 11, 2026 at 1:48am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a pair of metal handcuffs, dramatically lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the serious legal consequences of making unsubstantiated accusations.A harsh, gritty close-up of handcuffs highlights the serious implications of false claims against law enforcement.Madison Today

The Dodge County sheriff is suing a woman, a Cook County commissioner, and 10 other individuals for defamation after the woman claimed she was illegally detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and brought to the sheriff's detention facility. The sheriff says surveillance video and other evidence shows the woman was never at his facility, and that the incident was part of a scheme to scam someone out of thousands of dollars.

Why it matters

This case highlights the tensions between law enforcement and the public, as well as the challenges in verifying claims of misconduct. The sheriff says these types of false accusations can damage trust between the community and police, and unfairly target officers doing their jobs properly.

The details

According to the sheriff, Sunny Naqvi, a U.S. citizen, claimed she was detained by immigration officials at O'Hare International Airport after a work trip and transferred to the Dodge County Detention Facility. However, the sheriff says evidence, including surveillance video and text messages, shows Naqvi was actually at a hotel in Rosemont, Illinois, and never at his facility. The sheriff also says Naqvi's claim that she was returning from a work trip for SAP is false, as the company says she never worked for them. The sheriff alleges the incident was part of a scheme by Naqvi to scam a man she was in a relationship with out of roughly $25,000.

  • Last month, Sunny Naqvi made the claims about being detained by ICE and brought to the Dodge County Detention Facility.
  • On Friday, April 11, 2026, Sheriff Dale Schmidt held a nearly hourlong press conference to present evidence disproving Naqvi's claims.

The players

Sheriff Dale Schmidt

The Dodge County sheriff who is suing Sunny Naqvi and others for defamation over the alleged false claims of ICE detention.

Sunny Naqvi

A U.S. citizen who claimed she was illegally detained by ICE and brought to the Dodge County Detention Facility, which the sheriff says is false.

Kevin Morrison

A Cook County commissioner who the sheriff says helped spread Naqvi's story and is being sued for defamation.

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What they’re saying

“'Dodge County is not the place you want to make a hoax about.'”

— Sheriff Dale Schmidt

“'The timeline being claimed is not physically possible based on the evidence we have, and that matters.'”

— Sheriff Dale Schmidt

“'She scammed a victim out of thousands of dollars in pursuit of this hoax against the federal government and the Dodge County Sheriff's Office.'”

— Sheriff Dale Schmidt

“'This is a serious accusation and when it is not true it does real damage. It damages the trust between law enforcement and the community. It unfairly puts a target on the backs of officers who are doing their jobs the right way.'”

— Sheriff Dale Schmidt

What’s next

The sheriff says this remains an active criminal investigation, but filing criminal charges will be difficult since he has not been able to identify a specific law that was broken in Wisconsin. He has spoken with the FBI, Illinois State Police, and other law enforcement agencies about the case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges law enforcement faces in verifying claims of misconduct and the potential damage false accusations can have on public trust in law enforcement. It also raises questions about the motives behind the alleged scheme and the difficulties in pursuing criminal charges for such incidents.