A New York man, Kenneth Windley, has regained his freedom after spending nearly two decades in prison over a robbery he did not commit.
Windley, 61, was linked to the 2005 crime after he unknowingly used a stolen money order to purchase a stove for his mother. He was later convicted of second-degree robbery and sentenced to 20 years to life imprisonment.
A Brooklyn judge overturned his conviction after prosecutors reviewed his claims of innocence and determined that he had no involvement in the crime.
The Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office confirmed that, after several years, Windley’s account had been validated, leading to his release from prison and the clearing of his name, according to District Attorney Eric Gonzalez.
Speaking outside the courthouse, Windley said the wrongful conviction had cost him 20 years of his life but expressed relief that the error had now been corrected.
The case stemmed from an April 1, 2005 robbery in the Crown Heights area of Brooklyn, where two men trailed a 70-year-old victim into his apartment building, attacked him in an elevator and stole cash along with two unsigned money orders.
Authorities later linked Windley to the crime after he used one of the stolen money orders, leading to his arrest when the victim identified him as one of the attackers.
During his 2007 trial, Windley maintained his innocence, stating that he had purchased the money order from two men outside an appliance store for about $400, unaware it was stolen.
He explained that although he believed the men were street traders, he thought he was simply assisting them by buying the money order.
Windley also stated that he had never used a money order before and did not question its origin at the time.
Despite his defence, he was convicted in March 2007 and, due to prior felony records, received a lengthy prison sentence.
Years later, Windley located the actual perpetrators, who were already incarcerated for similar robberies targeting elderly individuals returning from banks.
The suspects confirmed to prosecutors that Windley had no role in the Crown Heights robbery, a claim supported by recorded prison calls and emails.
