Man who served 30 years for crime he didn't commit sues Albany, detectives for $80M

A man who served 30 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit is suing the city of Albany for $80 million, alleging police detectives coerced witnesses to implicate him in a 1995 shootout with police. Corey Young was released from prison earlier this year.

“He’s obviously grateful to be home, but nothing can make up for the fact that he has lost a substantial chunk of his life,” said Joshua Kelner, Young’s attorney.

Witnesses claimed Young was the triggerman in the shootout, but no physical evidence tied Young to the crime. In 2024, those witnesses recanted and said two detectives coerced them into those statements.

Along with the city of Albany, Young is suing the estate of the late Det. Kenneth Wilcox and former Det. Anthony Ryan. The suit seeks damages of $80 million.

“There is no appropriate price tag for it because you can’t make up for the fact that somebody was behind bars for something of which he was actually innocent,” said Kelner. “Money is an imperfect substitute but the only substitute our system of justice has.”

Wilcox died in a 2006 car crash while on duty. This is not the first time he’s been accused of misconduct. He’s also mentioned in two other wrongful-conviction lawsuits.

Carl Dukes was convicted of murder in 1998, but that conviction was overturned in 2014 after Wilcox was accused of coercing a confession. Dukes settled with the city for $5.75 million.

Alphonzo Davis spent 20 years in prison until his conviction was overturned, also based on claims that Wilcox coerced a confession from a witness. Davis’ lawsuit with the city is still ongoing. He’s asking for $50 million in damages.

“What we see when we look back, especially on this period of the Albany Police Department, is detectives who had no real guide rails to prevent misconduct and in fact were rewarded for producing confessions or witness statements,” Kelner said.

Albany police declined to comment on a pending lawsuit.

Lee Kindlon, Albany County district attorney, signed off on the change in Young’s case.

“When evidence calls a conviction into question, we have both a legal and a moral duty to take that seriously. That is what we did here,” he said. “This office will continue to review cases where credible claims of wrongful conviction are presented.”

The attorney said the lawsuits are not about the money.

“When I saw Corey Young walk out of the prison gates, I can say that it was one of the most powerful, emotional, powerful moments of my career,” he said.