Man who spent decades in prison on false testimony by crooked cops released

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. — A New York judge has vacated the decades-old armed robbery conviction of Jeffrey Koonce, 67, citing newly uncovered evidence of police misconduct and false testimony. Koonce, who spent eight years in prison for the crime, has consistently maintained his innocence since his 1981 conviction.

The decision to overturn the conviction was announced Friday by New York Supreme Court Justice James McCarty, who dismissed the indictment against Koonce. The ruling followed an investigation by the Westchester County District Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit, led by DA Mimi Rocah. The probe revealed that lead detectives from the Mount Vernon Police Department (MVPD) used improper photo identification methods and provided false testimony during the original trial.

The investigation also found that two key figures in the case, Detective James Garcia and Lieutenant Robert Astorino, were later convicted on federal corruption charges in 1994. The lead detective, Daniel Salottolo, was also implicated in providing false evidence.

“This case demonstrates how critical it is to review past convictions to ensure justice is done,” Rocah said. Koonce’s case was reopened after his attorney, Karen Newirth, presented new evidence that cast doubt on the validity of the original investigation and trial.

Koonce, accompanied by his attorney and his son, Dejuan Koonce—a 20-year veteran of the New York State Police—expressed relief at the long-overdue exoneration. “I was six years old when my father was taken from me,” Dejuan said in a statement. “Today is a day of healing and justice for our family.”

Judge McCarty commended the efforts of the defense, the DA’s office, and the Conviction Review Unit, stating, “Credit is due to all the people who worked hard in this case so that justice can be done.”

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