$6.96 Million Settlement for Wrongful Conviction Marks Second Largest in Milwaukee's History

A devastating case of police misconduct has resulted in a $6.96 million settlement for Danny Wilber, who spent 18 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. The Milwaukee Police Department detectives fabricated evidence against Wilber, framing him for a 2004 homicide. The city's Judiciary and Legislation Committee recommended approving the settlement, but elected leaders expressed discontent about taxpayers footing the bill.

Key Takeaways:

• The $6.96 million settlement is the second largest in Milwaukee's history, stemming from a federal civil lawsuit that accused Milwaukee Police Department detectives of fabricating evidence against Danny Wilber.
• Wilber was wrongly convicted of a 2004 homicide and spent 18 years in prison, with his conviction ultimately being overturned after he was found to have had an unfair trial in a federal appeals court.
• The city's detectives manipulated evidence, including fabricating witness statements, and used threats and intimidation to compel witnesses to give false testimony.
• The detectives, including Thomas Casper, who became a commander for the Milwaukee Area Investigative Team (MAIT), collected measurements from the crime scene and recovered bullet fragments that showed Diaz had been shot from behind.
• Wilber will receive nearly $7 million from the city due to the detectives' misconduct.
• Attorneys for Wilber, Ben Elson and Flint Taylor of the People's Law Office in Chicago, stated that the city should publicly acknowledge its role in Wilber's wrongful conviction and make a sincere apology.

Statistics:

• $6.96 million: the amount of the settlement
• 18 years: the amount of time Wilber spent in prison for a crime he did not commit
• 2004: the year in which Wilber was wrongfully convicted of the homicide
• 2022: the year in which Wilber's case was formally closed by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office
• 2020: the year in which MAIT selected a new commander
• 2024: the year in which the settlement was recommended for approval by the city's Judiciary and Legislation Committee

Sources:

• https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2024/07/23/u-s-house-gop-spending-cuts-a-preview-of-project-2025-lead-dem-appropriator-says/criminal-justice-project/
• https://eu.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2025/05/09/milwaukee-moving-toward-7-million-police-misconduct-settlement/83463943007/
• https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2022/06/15/police-surveillance-company-seeks-to-acquire-notorious-israeli-nso-group/img_2430/
• https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/02/12/mait-how-wisconsins-investigations-into-police-shootings-protect-officers/
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