Federal grand jury indicts ex-Harvey cop, alleging Derrick Muhammad extorted local tow companies
As the head of the city’s traffic division, the former Lieutenant helped dole out city work to private tow companies — and withheld it if owners didn’t provide kickbacks.
Federal prosecutors announced the indictment of a former Harvey police officer accused of extorting south suburban towing companies for cash payments last Thursday.
Derrick Muhammad served as the head of the department’s traffic division from 2011 to 2019, a role that provided deep power and influence. Muhammad was able to assign private towing companies city work, conspiring with a relative to hold city work from towing companies that didn’t give them cash, cars, or other kickbacks, according to prosecutors.
Four tow companies, including one in Harvey, Calumet Park, and nearby Calumet City are named in court documents. One tow company cooperated with federal prosecutors in the investigation — unbeknowst to Muhammad.
Muhammad is charged with one count of extortion, one count of conspiracy, and one count of extortion. If convicted, Muhammad faces up to 50 years in federal prison.
The indictment also seeks that Muhammad forfeit $100,000.
Muhammad, 73, also known as “Rick,” is the brother of former ill-famed Harvey mayor Eric J. Kellogg, who served from 2003 to 2019. Kellogg was not named in the indictment.
In 2019, federal agents raided the Harvey Police Department. He was charged after he covered up the discovery of an illegal weapon in a towed vehicle, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Muhammad was then sentenced to 9 months in federal prison.
Rommell Kellogg, another brother of the former mayor, was also charged in 2019 for extorting a strip club owner, taking cash in exchange for looking away at sex work at the business.
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