The Chicago City Council awarded $31 million to four men previously convicted of rape as teenagers after it was discovered they were wrongfully accused.

The men were exonerated of the 1994 rape and strangulation of Nina Glover after DNA evidence showed a now-deceased criminal had committed the crime, according to ABC News.

Michael Saunders, Harold Richardson, Vincent Thames and Terrill Swift were between the ages of 15 and 18 when they were incarcerated. A judge overturned their convictions in 2011, but not before they served sentences ranging from 12 to 17 years behind bars.

Saunders and Richardson were released after 17 years, while Thames and Swift ended up serving 12. A federal report from 2017 showed authorities pressured the teens into providing a false confession, ABC News reports.

Fraternal Order of Police Vice President Martin Preib said the settlement was simply a frivolous ploy aimed at taking advantage of the taxpayer.

“Their playbook is simple. They claim police misconduct, get the prosecutors to exonerate, draft a willing media, and then manipulate the cities of Chicago out of their tax money,” Preib said during a City Council meeting.

You can Follow Nick on Twitter and Facebook

The Daily Caller News Foundation is working hard to balance out the biased American media. For as little as $3, you can help us. Freedom of speech isn’t free. Make a one-time donation to support the quality, independent journalism of the Daily Caller News Foundation. We’re not dependent on commercial or political support and we do not accept any government funding.



Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.