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Des Plaines man who won millions in wrongful conviction settlement faces new charges

A Des Plaines man who once was awarded $25 million by a jury for his wrongful murder conviction is facing federal gun charges following a shooting last week.

Thaddeus Jimenez, 36, was charged Aug. 18 with aggravated battery and weapons violations stemming from a shooting in Chicago that Cook County authorities labeled an internal gang dispute. Federal authorities indicted him Wednesday on charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, a charge that carries a maximum of 10 years in prison if convicted.

When arrested, authorities said Jimenez was in possession of a loaded, .38-caliber semiautomatic handgun.

Jimenez is no stranger to law enforcement.

He spent 16 years in prison after being convicted of murder at age 13 for the 1993 shooting death of a 19-year-old on Chicago's Northwest side. However, Jimenez's conviction was later overturned and he was released from prison in 2009. A jury awarded him $25 million from Chicago in 2012, one of the largest judgments in a wrongful conviction case in history.

That same year he was convicted of felony drug charges, Cook County prosecutors said. He received probation and community service, according to court records.

But that wasn't his only brush with the law since his release from prison. Multiple media reports indicate Jimenez was arrested at least seven times since 2009.

Shortly after his release from prison, Jimenez was arrested in Rosemont after a confrontation with one of the village's public safety officers. Prosecutors at the time said Jimenez threatened the officer and was taken into custody. He was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest and possession of less than 2.5 grams of marijuana.

He's also currently facing drunken driving charges, according to the Cook County Sheriff's website.

Man exonerated of murder arrested in Rosemont

Man gets $25M for wrongful conviction

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