PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 22, 2024 — District Attorney Larry Krasner announced the exoneration of 59-year-old Keith Graves, who spent 22 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. The exoneration was facilitated by the Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) of the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office after an extensive investigation.
Keith Graves was originally convicted in 2002 alongside three co-defendants for a gunpoint robbery that occurred in a South Philadelphia bar in July 2001. He was not, however, convicted of the associated rape charges that two of his co-defendants faced. Doubts about Graves’ involvement were raised by the weak evidence presented at trial, primarily based on uncertain voice identifications and a physical description from an eyewitness that did not match Graves.
Further investigation revealed that another individual, James Lewis, was likely involved in the crime. Despite these findings, Graves’ attempts to challenge his conviction were initially unsuccessful. It wasn’t until the CIU’s involvement, prompted by the Hon. Teresa M. Sarmina’s concerns, that the case gained momentum towards exoneration.
A key breakthrough occurred in January 2024 when CIU Assistant District Attorneys interviewed James Lewis, currently serving a sentence for an unrelated crime, who confessed to his involvement in the robbery and exculpated Graves.
Following the confession and further review, the CIU moved to drop all charges against Graves, and he was officially exonerated by the Hon. Scott DiClaudio. The District Attorney’s Office, under DA Krasner’s administration, emphasized their commitment to justice and the importance of addressing past wrongful convictions.
The exoneration marks the 45th case overturned by DA Krasner’s CIU, highlighting the ongoing efforts to rectify injustices within the legal system. Graves’ release allows him to reunite with his family, bringing an end to over two decades of wrongful imprisonment.
