In Chicago Violent Crime Pays! City Council just approved $260 million settlement for 16 convicted murderers released from prison —$100 million of which will line the pockets of one Chicago law firm. Not one was required to prove innocence through adversarial court proceeding.    The apparent collusion between the Kim Foxx administration and certain trial lawyers is the greatest taxpayer rip-off in Chicago history. The playbook was remarkably simple:   • Exploit a disgraced detective and challenge decades-old murder convictions.   • Cast the widest possible net by seeking the release of anyone serving a lengthy murder sentence if the detective had even peripheral involvement.   • Eliminate adversarial scrutiny: Foxx declined to contest the convictions being overturned.   • Grease the skids for massive payouts: Foxx's office routinely declined to oppose requests for “certificates of innocence”, paving the way for multimillion-dollar settlements.   The result?   Convicted murderers walk free. Trial lawyers become rich, taxpayers fleeced, and victim’s families are denied justice.   Federal Judge Paul Diamond recently referred Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, and potentially prosecutors under his supervision, for criminal investigation over a similar con involving similar wrongful-conviction practices.   If Philadelphia warrants a federal criminal investigation, Chicago must demand one.