Final Fairbanks Four Member Gets $11.5M Settlement

Final Fairbanks Four Member Gets $11.5M Settlement

Introduction

An Alaska Native man, the last of the so-called Fairbanks Four, has reached an $11.5 million settlement with the City of Fairbanks after alleging that police acted with racial bias in the 1997 murder case of a white teenager.

He and three other Indigenous men were wrongfully imprisoned for nearly 20 years before their convictions were vacated in 2015.

Final Settlement and Case Dismissal

The U.S. District Court Judge officially dismissed the long-running civil lawsuit against the city and its police officers at the request of all parties involved. This marks the final legal resolution for the group, as the other three men previously settled with the city’s insurance carrier for $1.59 million each in late 2023.

Statement from the Plaintiff

In a statement released by one of his legal representatives, the plaintiff emphasized the emotional toll of his wrongful incarceration. “No amount of money will ever truly compensate for the years I lost as an innocent man,” he said. “But this settlement gives me the freedom to move forward and spend valuable time with my daughter and parents, who stood by me through it all.”

City Denies Liability

Fairbanks city officials confirmed the settlement, which will be paid out through a structured schedule ending by October 1, 2026. However, they emphasized that the agreement does not constitute an admission of guilt or responsibility on the part of the city or its officers.

Vindication and Legal Milestones

Attorneys for the plaintiff described the agreement as a “complete vindication” of his innocence, which he had upheld with “extraordinary dignity” for nearly three decades. The settlement follows a 2015 civil case hearing that led to the vacating of the convictions. That hearing reexamined evidence and introduced the possibility that someone else may have killed the 15-year-old victim.

Disputed Release Agreement and Court Ruling

Though the men agreed not to sue the city as part of their 2015 release, they later argued that this agreement was coerced. A federal appeals court agreed, allowing their civil lawsuits to proceed. This paved the way for the recent settlements.

Ongoing Investigation

Despite the vacated convictions and settlements, the Fairbanks Police Department continues to list the case as “open/active,” and no new suspects have been publicly identified.

Community and Advocacy Response

Alaska Native leaders have long contended the case was racially motivated and pushed for justice. The settlements mark a significant chapter in a decades-long fight against wrongful convictions and systemic bias.