Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced that his office has secured a victory in the first civil hate crime lawsuit filed by the Attorney General’s office. A Carroll County Circuit Court judge ordered two former residents, Chad Hampton and Cheryl Hampton, to pay over $90,000 for a prolonged campaign of race-based intimidation against their neighbor, Gregory Johnson.
“This behavior is shocking, racist and un-American. I appreciate the judge’s order that shows such despicable behavior will not be tolerated in our state,” Raoul said. “With dramatic increases in reported hate crimes, I will continue to use all of the tools at my disposal to prosecute hate crimes and send the message that hate has no place in Illinois.”
Judge Jerry Kane found both Chad Hampton, 49, of Victoria, Illinois, and Cheryl Hampton, 70, of Rock Island, Illinois, violated the Illinois Hate Crime Act by intimidating and engaging in disorderly conduct toward Johnson. The court ordered each defendant to pay a $5,000 civil penalty as well as $45,000 each in actual and punitive damages to Johnson.
The lawsuit detailed months of harassment by the Hamptons beginning in June 2022. Incidents included displaying racial slurs with a Confederate flag facing Johnson’s home and showing swastikas visible from his property. The harassment escalated when they used a noose to hang an effigy resembling Johnson from a tree within view of his home.
The public is advised that images associated with this case may be disturbing.
The Attorney General filed the lawsuit after an investigation by his Civil Rights Bureau with support from local authorities including the Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office and Savanna Police Department. This marks the first time Raoul has exercised new authority under a 2018 amendment allowing his office to bring civil lawsuits for hate crimes.
Raoul’s Civil Rights Bureau enforces laws against discrimination and hate crimes across Illinois. Residents are encouraged to report incidents or seek assistance through email or hotline services provided by the bureau.
Deputy Bureau Chief Mary Grieb and Assistant Attorney General Angelys Torres McBride prosecuted the case for Raoul’s office.
As Illinois’ primary legal authority, the Attorney General’s office handles legal matters ranging from consumer rights to civil rights enforcement statewide. The agency supports vulnerable groups such as workers and immigrants while providing resources for community safety and transparency (official website). The office also works with law enforcement agencies to protect victims of crime and ensure open government practices across its locations throughout Illinois.
