Des Plaines man wrongfully convicted of murder going back to prison
A Des Plaines man who received $25 million for spending 16 years behind bars for a murder he didn't commit is heading back to prison after admitting he shot a former gang member in the legs in 2015.
Thaddeus Jimenez, 38, was sentenced to nine years and two months in prison Thursday after pleading guilty to federal charges of illegal possession of a firearm. He admitted he used a .380-caliber semiautomatic handgun Aug. 17, 2015, to shoot a man in each leg. A video of the shooting, recorded by a fellow gang member, was played at the sentencing hearing.
The video showed Jimenez sitting in the driver's seat of his Mercedes convertible. Fellow gang member Jose Roman, 24, of Chicago, was in the passenger seat with a .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle, according to court papers. The two men sped off after the shooting but were quickly caught by police. The victim survived.
Roman was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday. The pair must serve at least 85 percent of their sentences.
Both men are still facing state charges related to the shooting and could face even more prison time. Authorities previously described the shooting as an internal gang dispute.
Jimenez gained infamy after being charged with a 1993 gang-related shooting death at age 13. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison after being tried as an adult. However, he was released in 2009 after two witnesses recanted their testimony. Jimenez sued the city and received a $25 million award in 2012, believed at the time to be the largest wrongful conviction settlement ever paid by Chicago.
In new court records, authorities accuse Jimenez of using the money to build a criminal empire, buying guns, paying for tattoos and purchasing luxury vehicles.
Jimenez has been arrested multiple times since being released from prison. Shortly after his release, 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 was convicted of drug charges in 2012 and sentenced to probation and community service. He was also facing DUI charges at the time of his arrest for the 2015 shooting.
Jimenez's victim in the 2015 shooting sued Jimenez, seeking at least $50,000 in damages, plus punitive damages. That case is still pending.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.