Man Awarded $25 Million For Wrongful Conviction Charged In Shooting
(CBS) -- Thaddeus Jimenez was freed from prison in 2009 and later awarded $25 million for a wrongful conviction, but now he is in trouble with the law again.
CBS 2's Derrick Blakley takes a look at a man some say wasted his second chance.
Jimenez spent 16 years in prison before his conviction was overturned. Prosecutors say he spent a lot of the money awarded to him on trying to get his old gang back together, paying recruits up to $50,000 to join.
On Monday, Jimenez allegedly punished one former member who refused to rejoin by shooting him, once in each leg.
It's the kind of development few envisioned when Jimenez' 50-year murder sentence was thrown out, with help from Northwestern's Center for Wrongful Convictions.
Prosecutors say, Jimenez's award money just bought more trouble. Police nabbed him, and 22-year-old Jose Roman after Monday's shooting with Jimenez at the wheel. They allegedly fled at high speed and crashed a Mercedes Benz.
Thaddeus Jimenez's driver's license is suspended and he should not have been behind the wheel.
Jesus Roman was on bond from two previous weapons charges at the time of the shooting.
Police say Jimenez was armed with a 38-caliber pistol, Roman with a 22-caliber rifle and both were ordered held without bond.