Sidney Holmes, a Florida man who was wrongfully imprisoned for 34 years, has been awarded $1.7 million in compensation following his exoneration in 2023.
Holmes was convicted in 1989 for allegedly driving a getaway car during a robbery. Despite the lack of solid evidence linking him to the crime, he was handed a staggering 400-year sentence. Decades later, new evidence surfaced proving his innocence, leading to his release after more than three decades behind bars.
Following his exoneration, the state approved the compensation under Florida’s wrongful conviction statute.
Now 58 years old, Holmes is using his voice to advocate for justice reform. He has become a public figure in the fight against wrongful convictions, calling attention to systemic issues within the legal system and sharing his story to inspire change.
“I refuse to let them take my purpose,” he said.
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Sentenced to 400 years for a crime he didn’t commit, Sidney Holmes lost 34 years of his life behind bars to a wrongful conviction. Now, he’ll receive $1.7M in compensation — but no amount can repay stolen time. Now, he’s using that unimaginable pain to advocate for others. Keep… pic.twitter.com/9oQ0spdumy
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) July 16, 2025