John Velez, who served 16 years in prison for murder before his conviction was overturned, will receive $7.6 million in a settlement from the Chicago City Council, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Thursday.

Velez already received a $2.4 million settlement from Cook County in January after a key witness in the trial recanted his testimony, news outlets reported. report.(Related article: Blue City to pay more than $21 million to residents displaced by fireworks failure: Report)

A man whose murder conviction was tossed after a key witness admitted to lying at trial is on track to receive a $7.6 million settlement from the city, on top of the $2.4 million he received from Cook County.https://t.co/ndCw7VHqs8

— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) July 11, 2024

Velez was convicted of murdering Anthony Hueneca in March 2001 and sentenced to 80 years in prison, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Velez was 17 at the time of his conviction, the paper said. Chicago police relied on statements from Gustavo Rivera and three friends who claimed to have witnessed Velez, who was shouting anti-Latin Kings slogans and identifying himself as a member of a rival gang, Satan's Disciples, shoot and kill Hueneca, the paper reported, citing a lawsuit.

However, Rivera recanted his testimony, admitting in 2016 that he did not witness the shooting and that he had only identified Velez to “get help” from police on a drug conviction, according to the Chicago Sun. Rivera's recantation led to the conviction being overturned, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Velez was released from prison on December 11, 2017, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

According to the outlet, the indictment also alleged other issues with the case against Velez. Police also alleged that Velez was a member of Satan's Disciples and wanted to avenge his uncle's death as part of a turf war with the Latin Kings gang, according to the Chicago Sun. However, citing the indictment, the outlet reported that Velez was not a member of Satan's Disciples and that his uncle was a member of the Almighty Ambrose street gang.

Velez's then-pregnant girlfriend also claims police forced her to falsely testify that her boyfriend had confessed to “recently shooting a Latin King” in retaliation for the death of his uncle, the outlet reported, citing a lawsuit. This evidence was presented at Velez's trial, the outlet noted.

The Chicago City Council's Finance Committee is scheduled to vote on the settlement with Velez on Monday, the outlet reported.