Syracuse to Pay $130,000 to Wrongly Arrested Man

Officers mistook a registered sex offender with a similar name during an arrest in New York City.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The city of Syracuse has agreed to pay $130,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by Kenneth Hicks, who alleged he was wrongfully arrested in New York City and brought back to Syracuse. Hicks, a registered sex offender, was arrested by Syracuse police officers who were looking for a different man with a similar name. Hicks was held in jail for over 24 hours before the charges were dropped.

Why it matters

This case highlights the potential for mistakes in the criminal justice system, especially when dealing with individuals with similar names or identities. It raises concerns about the protocols and information-sharing practices used by law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions.

The details

According to the lawsuit, Syracuse police officers went to New York City to arrest a sex offender who had failed to report a change in address. However, they were given the name of the wrong man, Kenneth Hicks, to arrest. Hicks, who was in compliance with his registration requirements, was awoken in his bed, handcuffed, and driven to Syracuse, where he was arraigned and jailed for over 24 hours before the charges were dropped.

  • On March 24, 2022, Hicks was arrested by Syracuse police officers in New York City.
  • Hicks was held in the Onondaga County Justice Center for more than 24 hours before being released on March 25, 2022.
  • The charges against Hicks were dropped on April 7, 2022.

The players

Kenneth Hicks

A registered sex offender who was wrongly arrested by Syracuse police officers in New York City.

Detective Andrew Barnes

One of the Syracuse police officers involved in the wrongful arrest of Hicks.

Officer Fred Lamberton

One of the Syracuse police officers involved in the wrongful arrest of Hicks.

Officer Mamoun Abraham

One of the Syracuse police officers involved in the wrongful arrest of Hicks.

Kenneth Houck

A registered sex offender with a similar name to Hicks, who had died in 2020.

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What they’re saying

“Our members could not have done anything different to prevent this outcome.”

— Joe Moran, Syracuse Police Benevolent Association President (syracuse.com)

“We believe that this settlement is in the best financial interest of the City of Syracuse particularly in light of the fact that this matter is being litigated in New York County rather than Onondaga County.”

— Susan Katzoff, City's Corporation Counsel (syracuse.com)

What’s next

The judge will decide on Tuesday whether to allow Kenneth Hicks to be released on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of thorough investigation and verification procedures in law enforcement, especially when dealing with individuals with similar identities. It also raises questions about the communication and coordination between law enforcement agencies across jurisdictions to prevent such wrongful arrests from occurring.