Another Billion....GONE

This money sure would have come in handy:

• Last fall, a Chicago headline caught my eye: A man who had posed with Governor J.B. Pritzker at a “Peacekeepers” anti-violence event had just been charged with murder.

  The man was part of a state-funded program designed to prevent gang violence by paying locals—often former gang members—to mediate conflicts on the street. About a week after appearing with the governor, prosecutors say, the man participated in a smash-and-grab robbery of a Louis Vuitton store. In the chaotic getaway, another man was killed: Mark Carlo Arceta, whose son was born the next day without a father.

  The story raised obvious questions: What exactly is a Peacekeeper? And how often do people in this program end up back in cuffs?

  The local press quickly moved on. I started digging.

  After three months of Freedom of Information Act requests, door-knocking, and speaking with ex–gang members, I answer those questions in today’s story.

The entire article is behind a paywall, but here's the damning graphic:

 

Although they tout private contributions, the fact is taxpayers are footing the majority of the bills for what is essentially a money-laundering operation for gangs, criminals, grifters and scammers. The article delves into all sorts of names and events that would invite scrutiny from legitimate news organizations, but those don't seem to exist any more.

If you can find a way to read the article, do so.