In a shocking case of alleged police misconduct, a Chicago man has filed a lawsuit against several former police officers and the City of Chicago, claiming he was wrongfully convicted of murder over three decades ago. Tyrece Derrick Williams filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on November 6, 2025, accusing former officer Reynaldo Guevara and others of fabricating evidence that led to his wrongful conviction.
The lawsuit paints a grim picture of systemic corruption within the Chicago Police Department during the early 1990s. According to Williams, he was just 22 years old when he was framed for the murder of Peter Cruz in 1991—a crime he did not commit. The complaint alleges that notorious former officer Reynaldo Guevara and his co-conspirators fabricated evidence, including false eyewitness identifications and statements, to pin the murder on Williams. One key witness, Wilfredo Torres, reportedly testified that officers coerced him into falsely identifying Williams as the shooter through threats and physical abuse.
Williams had an alibi at the time of Cruz’s murder; he was home with his wife, Joethel Griffin. However, according to the complaint, officers fabricated police reports and falsified statements from Griffin to undermine this alibi. They allegedly threatened Griffin with harm to her children if she did not comply with their narrative. This misconduct extended beyond just framing Williams; it involved suppressing evidence that could have exonerated him or pointed investigators toward the real perpetrator.
The complaint highlights broader issues within the Chicago Police Department during this period. It alleges a pattern of misconduct where officers routinely fabricated evidence and suppressed exculpatory information to secure convictions without regard for actual guilt or innocence. This systemic failure is said to have resulted in more than 50 wrongful convictions tied to Guevara alone—convictions that have since been vacated.
Williams seeks justice for his wrongful conviction and subsequent imprisonment, which robbed him of more than three decades of freedom. He is pursuing claims under federal civil rights laws and Illinois state law for damages related to loss of liberty, emotional distress, and other injuries suffered due to his wrongful conviction.
Representing Williams are attorneys from Loevy & Loevy, known for handling cases involving wrongful convictions and police misconduct. The case is being heard by Judge Carol Howard under Case No. 25-cv-13620.
Source: 125cv13620_Tyrece_Derrick_v_Reynaldo_Guevara_Complaint_Northern_District_of_Illinois.pdf
