Marvin Roberts settles with City of Fairbanks for $11.5 million in landmark case

Marvin Roberts has won his case against the City of Fairbanks for wrongful conviction. The settlement is $11.5 million.

Here is a press release from his attorney, Fairbanksan Mike Kramer, of the law firm Kramer and Cosgrove.

“I don’t think any amount of money will be enough to justify what I endured as an innocent man in prison,” Roberts was quoted as saying.

“This settlement, however, gives me freedom with my life, and most importantly, more time with my daughter and my parents, who supported me throughout the nightmare.”

Roberts was one of four Fairbanks men in the so-called Fairbanks Four case. He spent nearly 18 years in prison.

“The city refused to publicly apologize, but the $11.5 million they agreed to pay reflects what they finally recognized, they made terrible mistakes that sent an innocent man to prison while allowing the real killers to go on to murder many others.”

In 2023, the three other men imprisoned in the case settled for $1.6 million each, but Roberts did not agree to that deal.