Philadelphia Man Freed After 41 Years in 'Sex for Lies' Scandal Review

Russell Williams becomes the fourth person released as investigations reveal systemic police misconduct in 1980s homicide cases.

Russell Williams, 67, was released from a Philadelphia prison after serving 41 years for a 1982 murder conviction tied to the 'sex for lies' scandal.
Williams' life sentence was vacated, and he entered a plea agreement for third-degree murder, resulting in a time-served sentence; he maintains his innocence.
The 'sex for lies' scheme involved detectives offering sexual favors to witnesses in exchange for false testimony, leading to at least 20 wrongful convictions, according to reports.
Two alternative suspects in the 1982 murder were not disclosed during the original trial, and evidence of police misconduct has since emerged.
Williams is the fourth person released due to this investigation, following Willie Stokes, William Franklin, and co-defendant Andre Harvey, highlighting systemic issues in Philadelphia's homicide unit.