Help Erin Wicomb Overturn Wrongful Conviction

Erin Wicomb's BLOG

Help Free Erin Wicomb: Wrongfully Incarcerated for White-Collar Crime

Campaign Goal: $35,000

Our Story:

We are reaching out to you with a sense of urgency and hope, seeking justice for our beloved Erin Wicomb, who is a loving father, boyfriend, brother, and son who has been wrongfully incarcerated for a crime he did not commit.

Erin has served 3 years of a split 3-9 year sentence for a wrongful conviction of grand theft in a single real estate transaction he did in NYC in 2015. He is facing additional charges in CA due to his failure to disclose his charges in NY to his CA investors, for a crime he did not commit and plead not guilty to at his sentencing. He is facing up to an additional 54 years, if convicted in CA. Since his extradition to San Diego, CA in Oct 2022, he has missed his merit parole and minimum sentence parole in NY. He has been held in SD County Jail for the past 20 months without access to even sunlight, denied bail and lack of due process. In hindsight, he acknowledges his legal battle in NY did impose constraints that ultimately affected the success of several real estate transactions in CA. But at no time did he conspire to fraud or steal any investors money, these were business deals that simply failed and should have been litigated civilly.

During this time, Erin has been separated from his young children, son 7 and daughter 5, put financial strain on his family, and further delayed any prospect of repayment to his investors due to his incarceration.

Despite our relentless efforts to prove his innocence, we recently faced a setback when his 440 Appeal in NY was denied by Judge Juan Merchan, who was the sentencing judge. Judge Merchan also denied to recuse himself for this 440 appeal, despite request from counsel. You may recognize Judge Merchan, as he is also the same judge who recently oversaw former President Trump's case. Judge Merchan delayed making a decision on this appeal for over a year. As you can imagine, it was quite a disappointment to receive a denial on 6/26/24 after this long awaited decision.

We have not stopped fighting his NY case and with your help will continue to do so to clear his name. Unfortunately, we have exhausted all of our funds in the amount over $61K. We have a sense of urgency to continue to help Erin, as our appellate lawyers at Spolin & Dukes have 30 days to submit an additional application for Leave to Appeal. This will allow a different judge at the appellate level to review his case with unbiased eyes. The cost of that appeal is $15,000, a $10,000 retainer is needed within a week to start this process. He continues to be denied bail in CA, which has kept him in administrative limbo, unable to parole in NY so he can fight his CA case with his liberties and earn an income for proper legal representation. He has an upcoming hearing on 7/2/24 in CA to revisit bail review. We pray that by God’s grace, Judge Gaston approves his bail. However, should it be denied again, have an option to submit a Writ of Mandate to appeal this decision for bail and lack of due process which will cost an additional $15,000 for a total of $30,000 just for these two time sensitive appeals.

Erin’s conviction has devastated his family, separated him from his young children, and left us in financial hardship. His wrongful incarceration has not only deprived us of his presence but has also unjustly tarnished his reputation. We firmly believe in Erin’s innocence and are committed to continuing our fight for justice, but we cannot do it alone. We urgently need your help to raise funds for his legal defense.

Why We Need Your Help

The legal system can be a daunting and expensive battlefield, especially for those who have been wrongfully accused. We are seeking to raise $35,000 to cover the following expenses:

-Legal Fees: Hiring experienced attorneys who specialize in wrongful convictions and appeals.

-Expert Witnesses: Bringing in experts who can provide critical testimony to support Erin’s innocence.

-Investigation Costs: Conducting a thorough investigation to uncover new evidence and inconsistencies in the original case.

-Commissary/Books: Assisting with expenses for better quality food, hygiene products, books, and writing materials so he can continue being productive during his incarceration and also help other prisoners who have don’t have access to resources.

Erin's Hope for Redemption

The justice system, by its very nature, is not designed to create win-win situations. It operates within a framework that often focuses on punitive measures rather than restorative or rehabilitative outcomes. This framework can be particularly problematic in complex white collar cases involving financial and business disputes, such as Erin's. Despite the system's limitations, Erin remains hopeful. His goal is not just to be released but to emerge as a stronger, more responsible individual. He dreams of reuniting with his children, girlfriend, family, and friends, and of pursuing his business ideas to ensure financial security and repay his investors.

Updates:

-CA judge refused to re-litigate bail review on 7/2/24 so previous motion of bail denial by previous judge stays, pending info from our appellate lawyer regarding whether writ of mandate for change of circumstances is even an option anymore with this decision.

-07/25/24 we filed a request for 60 day extension to submit leave of appeal to allow more time to come up with finances. Praying that this extension is granted. Thank you so much to everyone who has donated and made this extension request possible. We greatly appreciate continued prayers for Erin and progress towards his freedom!

How You Can Help

1. Donate: Every contribution, no matter how small, brings us one step closer to justice for Erin

2. Share: Please share our campaign on social media, with your friends, and within your community. The more people who hear Erin’s story, the greater our chances of reaching our goal.

3. Support: Offer words of encouragement, prayers, and any other form of support you can provide. Your kindness means the world to us during this difficult time.

Transparency

We are committed to keeping all donors updated on Erin’s case. Your generosity will directly impact Erin’s fight for freedom, and we promise to be transparent about every step of this journey, please follow Erin's Blog

Thank You

From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you for taking the time to read our story and for any support you can provide. Together, we can bring Erin home and restore justice to our family.

Donate Now and Help Free Erin Wicomb!

Your support is our beacon of hope. Let's fight for justice together.