Daniel Villegas Settlement: How Much Was It?
The Daniel Villegas settlement is $8 million. In July 2026, the City of El Paso announced it had reached that amount through mediation to resolve the federal civil lawsuit Villegas filed in 2015.
Villegas was convicted as a teenager in the 1993 murders of Armando "Mando" Lazzo and Robert "Bobby" England in El Paso. He always maintained his innocence and said his confession was coerced.
His conviction was later overturned. In 2015 he sued the city and several current and former police officers in federal court, and in 2018 a jury acquitted him at a retrial.
The $8 Million City Settlement
According to the City of El Paso's July 6, 2026 news release, Villegas was seeking $20 million in damages. The two sides agreed on $8 million before a jury trial that had been scheduled for August.
In 2025, a federal judge had dismissed several of his claims, including malicious prosecution and false arrest, on summary judgment. Other claims were still pending when the case settled.
The city said the settlement is not an admission of liability or wrongdoing. It said it settled to avoid the cost and uncertainty of a trial and possible appeals.
What About Texas State Compensation?
Texas pays wrongfully imprisoned people $80,000 for each year of wrongful incarceration, paid partly as an annuity, plus other benefits. Earlier versions of this article said Villegas received $1.76 million from the state.
We could not confirm any state payment to Villegas, so we removed that claim. Eligibility for the state program depends on specific legal findings, and an acquittal at retrial is not the same thing. The figure we can document is the $8 million city settlement.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much was the settlement? $8 million, agreed to by the City of El Paso through mediation in 2026.
- How much was he seeking? $20 million, according to the city.
- Did the city admit wrongdoing? No. The city said the settlement is not an admission of liability.
- What was the lawsuit about? It alleged violations of his constitutional rights during the investigation, arrest and prosecution in the 1993 case.
- When was it filed? In 2015, against the city and several current and former police officers.
- Was there a trial? No. The case settled before a jury trial scheduled for August 2026.
Daniel Villegas's case spans more than 30 years, from the 1993 murders to the 2026 settlement. No amount of money gives back lost years, but the settlement brings the long-running civil case to a close.
Sources
- City of El Paso Reaches Settlement in Daniel Villegas Civil Case, City of El Paso
- Exoneree Compensation in Texas, Innocence Project
