Between December 2019 and May 2020, the 15 men were arrested on charges of selling drugs to a confidential informant named Dennis Williams, Jr. The charges against all 15 men were later dismissed after the drugs they allegedly sold to the informant tested negative for any controlled substances.

In April, 12 of the 15 men filed a civil rights lawsuit filed against the City of Raleigh, Raleigh Police Detective Omar Abdullah and seven additional Raleigh police officers. The three other men were added for mediation but were never part of the original complaint.

“Plaintiffs appreciate the City of Raleigh’s recognition of the trauma and suffering caused by these wrongful arrests and incarcerations,” said a statement released Wednesday by the falsely-arrested men’s attorneys.

The press release was issued by attorneys Abraham Rubert-Schewel, Emily Gladden and Micheal Littlejohn, Jr. of the Tin Fulton Walker & Owen firm. The statement also called on the Raleigh Police Department and Wake County District Attorney’s Office to enact changes to prevent other people from being falsely accused and jailed.

The lawsuit contended that Abdullah conspired with Williams to specifically target Black men for arrest. The suit noted that plaintiffs were separated from their families, lost their jobs and some men spent as much as five months in jail on false charges.

Rubert-Schewel told Newsweek via email that his firm represents more people who may also file suit or settle.

“We have informed the City of at least six additional potential plaintiffs who were harmed by this scheme. These individuals are all women and children who were detained or had guns pointed at them during SWAT style raids of their homes,” he wrote. “We intend to seek justice for them as well.”

Williams was indicated by a Wake County grand jury in late August on five counts of obstruction of justice. He is accused of making false statements and providing fake drug evidence to authorities.

Abdullah has been on paid leave last September, though some people contend he should also face charges.

“He needs to be indicted,” Robin Mills told local NBC affiliate WRAL-TV last week. Her son, Marcus Vanirvin, was among those arrested and spent 18 days in jail. “They arrested all these people, and it turns out there was no evidence.”

Wake County District Attorney Lorrin Freeman told WRAL the State Bureau of Investigation is still reviewing the case, but the said the bureau has not yet found any evidence that proves Abdullah knew Williams provided fake drugs.

“We have not had evidence that would support charges against Detective Abdullah or against the Raleigh Police Department. That is not the same thing as saying, were there things that should have been done differently,” Freeman told the station.

“Together with the Plaintiffs and their counsel, the City of Raleigh has reached a settlement with the 15 plaintiffs, totaling $2 million,” Julia Milstead, the public information officer for the city, wrote Newsweek in an emailed statement. “City leaders appreciate the efforts of all involved.”

She added, “While the settlement resolves the lawsuit, it does not end efforts by the Raleigh Police Department to ensure this doesn’t happen again. No one should ever be arrested based on fraudulent charges.”

Update 09/30/21 12:55 p.m. ET: This story has been updated to include a statement from a City of Raleigh spokesperson.