Officers Charged With Shakedown Plot

Seven Chicago police officers were arrested Friday on federal charges of plotting to shake down and rob drug pushers who actually were undercover investigators running a sting operation.

The indictments are the most serious charges of police corruption in years in a city once notorious for graft.

Officials said the investigation, code named Broken Star, is continuing. Police Superintendent Matt Rodriguez said the next step is determining whether high-ranking police knew about the shakedowns and robberies.

The defendants all pleaded innocent Friday afternoon. They were ordered held over the weekend until another hearing Monday.