In 2013 the "New York Times" reported on Louis Scarcella's earlier police work. It said that a man was released from prison after serving 20 years for a murder he did not commit. His 1990 conviction was overturned by the Brooklyn District Attorney after finding that Detective Scarcella had "coached" witnesses for the prosecution. In 2014, New York City overcame decades of resistance to appeals by the man, David Ranta, from the office of Brooklyn DA Charles Hynes agreed without a trial to a $6.4 million settlement in compensation. The Ranta settlement is "the first of what is expected to be a series of wrongful conviction claims by men who were sent to prison based on the flawed investigative work" of Scarcella.