Deskovic Foundation client John “Divine G” Whitfield suffered for 25 years behind bars for a murder he did not commit. He was the subject of the recent, critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated film Sing Sing. Despite overwhelming evidence proving his innocence, his case continues to languish in legal limbo — ignored, delayed, and unjustly denied a fresh start. Demand action by signing our petition!

ANDREW KRIVAK EXONERATED

Deskovic Foundation client Andrew Krivak and his co-defendant Anthony DiPippo were convicted in 1997 of a horrendous crime that they allegedly committed together, the rape and murder of a 12 year old girl. An ever growing mountain of evidence points to their innocence, and suggests that another man, Howard Gombert, may have raped and killed the girl. DiPippo was finally acquitted of all the charges on October 11, 2016, but Krivak remained in prison based on the same evidence. The Foundation brought in a legal team that overturned Krivak’s conviction after 24 years of wrongful imprisonment, and helped Andy obtain release on bail, pending a retrial. At the retrial, represented by Foundation attorney Oscar Michelen and attorney Karen Neuwirth, Andy was found not guilty by the jury on February 27, 2023 and is now finally free.

ANDREW BROWN FREED, WE CONTINUE TO FIGHT

Deskovic Foundation client Andre Brown was convicted of attempted murder for a 1999 shooting that occurred when he was a 22 year old college student and sentenced to 40 years to life for a crime he always claimed to be innocent of. The Foundation's legal team overturned Brown’s conviction on December 5, 2022, after 23 years of wrongful imprisonment, nearly half his life. A judge vacated Brown’s conviction, citing ineffective counsel, and released him on his own recognizance. The Bronx District Attorney’s Office is appealing the decision. The Foundation believes Andre Brown to be innocent, and will continue to support him.

WILLIAM HAUGHEY EXONERATED AFTER 8 YEARS AND 4 MONTHS IN PRISON FOR AN ARSON HE DID NOT COMMIT

The Deskovic Foundation led the investigation that exonerated William Haughey after he spent 8 years and 4 months in prison for an arson he did not commit. The Foundation’s investigation turned up critical evidence that contributed to Haughey’s conviction being overturned on May 23, 2016.

WILLIAM LOPEZ EXONERATED AFTER 23 1/2 YEARS IN PRISON FOR A MURDER HE DID NOT COMMIT

The Deskovic Foundation, working in collaboration with William Lopez’s pre-existing legal team of Richard Levitt and Yvonne Shivers, provided critical investigative resources, turning up evidence of innocence, as well as helping secure testimony from a witness who had been deported to the Dominican Republic, which resulted in Lopez being exonerated on January 23, 2013 after spending 23 1/2 years in prison for a murder he had not committed.

LORENZO JOHNSON FREED AFTER 22 YEARS IN PRISON

Deskovic Foundation client Lorenzo Johnson was released after 16 1/2 years in prison on January 28, 2012 when a federal court ruled that the evidence to convict him had been insufficient – tantamount to a not guilty verdict. Just four months later, our founder had to drive Lorenzo back to prison to resume a sentence of life without parole for a crime did not commit, due to a Supreme Court decision that reinstated his wrongful conviction. The Foundation continued to fight for Lorenzo’s freedom, and on July 11, 2017 he was offered a "nolo contentre" plea deal that freed him without requiring an admission of guilt on his part.

Deskovic Foundation client Thomas Shafer was originally convicted of grand larceny and sentenced to serve five years of probation in 2012. Newly discovered evidence proved that the most valuable piece of jewelry he had been accused of stealing was, in fact, not stolen. On September 17, 2024, Thomas was exonerated of Grand Larceny, with all of the charges against him dismissed.

DIETER TEJADA EXONERATED

Deskovic Foundation client Dieter Tejada was originally convicted of assault after he got into a fight as a high school senior in 2008. Dieter's claims of self defense were ignored, and faced with a possible maximum prison sentence of 10 years, he accepted a prosecution offer to plead guilty, and imprisoned for nine months. Subsequently, Dieter graduated from college, then law school, but even after passing his bar exam, had trouble being admitted to the bar due to the conviction. During this process, Dieter found discrepancies in the police reports of the incident. The Deskovic Foundation took Dieter on as a client, working with attorney Alexander Taubes. The Foundation found that significant exculpatory material had been removed from the original police reports, including that the person Dieter claimed attacked him had been diagnosed with a violent conduct disorder, tested positive for barbiturates and alcohol, and was given antipsychotic medication when treated after the incident. A prosecution witness was located that recanted and admitted that his original statement was false. As a result of these findings, attorney Alex Taubes was able to file an application on behalf of Dieter seeking an absolute pardon on actual innocence grounds, which was granted on September 6, 2023, finally exonerating Dieter after 15 long years.