A man is scheduled to get additional millions from the city on top of the $2.4 million he earned from Cook County after his murder conviction was overturned due to a crucial witness admitting to giving false evidence during the trial.
The Pilsen jury convicted 17-year-old John Velez of the murder of Anthony Hueneca in March 2001. The witness’s confession that he hadn’t witnessed the incident led to Velez’s conviction being overturned after 16 years in jail.
A federal complaint said that Velez had wanted revenge for his uncle’s murder about a year prior, as asserted by the Chicago police. The defense team for Velez, however, claimed the police had decided to pin the murder on someone and that the whole thing was an elaborate hoax.
According to the complaint, Gustavo Rivera and three companions were waiting for Hueneca in a car outside a house on March 19, 2001, when he was shot to death. The four individuals who were present at the time were relied upon by the Chicago police as witnesses.
The three individuals in the vehicle were approached by a guy who allegedly warned them to get ready to die. However, in the end, all he did was identify himself as a member of the rival Satan’s Disciples gang and yell out gang chants that were critical of the Latin Kings street gang.
According to the lawsuit, the three individuals were startled to hear gunshots and observed guys fleeing down the street as they made their escape. From inside the house, Rivera could listen to gunfire as well and discovered Hueneca lying injured on the floor.
According to the lawsuit, Velez was soon the focus of Chicago police. He was at Area 4 police headquarters to assist a friend when Rivera and his companions were taken in for interrogation.
The Chicago police claimed that Velez was a Satan’s Disciples member who, in a conflict with the Latin Kings, had murdered Hueneca just days before the anniversary of his uncle’s death. Although Velez’s uncle was a gangster for the Almighty Ambrose, he had nothing to do with Satan’s Disciples.
Following the police’s promise to “help him out” with his recent narcotics conviction, Rivera identified Velez as the shooter.
According to the complaint, Velez’s girlfriend, who was carrying their child, was also pressured by the police to accuse her boyfriend of the murder of Hueneca.
Velez will receive $7.6 million from the city of Chicago.
