New York Man Exonerated After 19 Years in Prison for Robbery He Didn't Commit

Kenneth Windley was wrongfully convicted in 2007 for a $500 robbery, but has now been freed after prosecutors agreed he was innocent.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 11:27pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A man who spent nearly two decades in prison for a roughly $550 robbery was exonerated and freed on Monday, after prosecutors said they now agree he didn't commit the crime. Kenneth Windley, 61, was arrested in 2005 after buying a stove for his mother with a money order that turned out to be stolen. Despite his claims of innocence, Windley was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison. However, new evidence, including confessions from two other men who committed similar robberies, has led prosecutors to agree that Windley was wrongfully convicted.

Why it matters

This case highlights the flaws in the criminal justice system and the devastating impact wrongful convictions can have on individuals' lives. Windley spent nearly two decades behind bars for a crime he did not commit, underscoring the need for more rigorous investigation and evidence review to prevent such miscarriages of justice. It also raises questions about the reliability of eyewitness identification and the importance of thoroughly examining all available evidence before convicting someone.

The details

Windley was arrested in 2005 after buying a stove for his mother with a money order that turned out to be stolen from a 70-year-old man named Gerald Ross. Ross had been robbed at gunpoint by two thieves who followed him home from a bank and post office. While Ross identified Windley in a lineup, Windley maintained his innocence, saying he had simply bought the money order from a couple of acquaintances who claimed it was valid. After his conviction in 2007, Windley provided prosecutors with information about the two actual robbers, who later confessed to the crime and exonerated Windley. Prosecutors concluded that if the jury had known about the identities and criminal histories of the real perpetrators, it likely would have raised reasonable doubt about Windley's guilt.

  • Windley was arrested in 2005 for the robbery.
  • Windley was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
  • On March 16, 2026, Windley's conviction was thrown out and his case was dismissed entirely at the request of prosecutors and his lawyers.

The players

Kenneth Windley

A 61-year-old man who spent nearly 20 years in prison for a robbery he did not commit.

Gerald Ross

A 70-year-old man who was robbed at gunpoint, leading to Windley's wrongful conviction.

Eric Gonzalez

The Brooklyn District Attorney who apologized to Windley and agreed to have his conviction overturned.

David Shanies

One of Windley's lawyers who argued that he was "duped" into buying the stolen money order.

Suspect 1 and Suspect 2

Two men who confessed to robbing Gerald Ross, exonerating Windley.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It cost me 20 years, but they said they corrected it now. So that's all that matters. So I'm good with that.”

— Kenneth Windley (Associated Press)

“This case is really a cautionary tale of how things can seem one way but, without careful analysis, not be what it purports to be. Had we known what the evidence was, this case should have never happened.”

— Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn District Attorney (Associated Press)

“He was duped.”

— David Shanies, Windley's Lawyer (Associated Press)

What’s next

No new charges have been brought in the case, as the legal timeframe for doing so ran out years ago. The victim, Gerald Ross, has also passed away.

The takeaway

This case underscores the need for rigorous investigation and evidence review to prevent wrongful convictions, which can have devastating lifelong impacts on innocent individuals. It also highlights the importance of holding the criminal justice system accountable when it fails to properly administer justice.