I, Tamerra Washington (486364), have been wrongfully convicted of crimes I did not commit, and I have been fighting for my innocence for years. I was sentenced to 32-50 years for an alleged armed robbery that never occurred. Despite the overwhelming absence of evidence, I was convicted based on false testimony and legal misconduct. This has been a miscarriage of justice from the very beginning.

The Background
On April 20, 2010, I was arrested based on a sting operation set up by the Detroit Police Department's 9th Precinct, yet no records of this operation were ever produced. I was called by Sarah Turner to pick up money owed for a transaction involving 90 OxyContin pills, but no evidence of such drugs or the alleged robbery has ever been provided. My arrest was based on an invented story of gambling at Greektown Casino, which was later proven to be false.

Sarah Turner and her girlfriend, Suronda Hall, fabricated a story about me gambling and robbing them, alleging I lost $4000 at the casino. They later claimed I beat and robbed Sarah, while my co-defendant, Henry Harrison, allegedly stole a $50 bill and a chain from Suronda. However, during the proceedings, I was not shown any tangible evidence that connected me to these crimes, and my witnesses were never interviewed or called to testify.

Despite the fabricated testimony and lack of evidence, I was convicted of armed robbery and assault with intent to rob while armed (AWIRWA). There was no hospitalization or significant injury to the alleged victims—just a $50 loss and a stolen chain. There was no clear evidence of a robbery taking place.

The Violations
My case is rife with legal violations:

• Police Misconduct: The sting operation, which led to my arrest, was never documented, and crucial video footage was never preserved by the prosecution. The failure to secure these records constitutes a violation of my Constitutional rights and my due process.
  
  

• Prosecutorial Misconduct: The prosecution ignored key evidence that would have cleared me, including the fact that my co-defendant was proven to be in jail at the time of the alleged robbery. Despite this, the prosecution continued to pursue the theory that I aided and abetted him, which is legally unsound and unjust.
  
  

• Judicial Misconduct: Several judges involved in my case were aware of the failure to meet the burden of proof, yet they pushed the case forward, denying me the right to a fair trial. At my preliminary hearing, one judge even stated, “You think you're some sort of gangster, and we will show you.” This demonstrates a bias and disregard for due process.
  
  

• Due Process Violations: Throughout the entire case, my rights were systematically violated. From my arrest to the handling of evidence, my defense was inadequate, and I was denied the opportunity to present the truth. Despite Sarah Turner's own testimony that her family worked in law enforcement and was involved in setting me up, this was never investigated.
  
  

The Case Timeline

• April 20, 2010: Arrested based on false gambling story and fabricated robbery claims.
  
  

• May 19, 2010: Preliminary hearing; charges dismissed and reissued with no new evidence.
  
  

• September 17, 2010: Co-defendant’s alibi cleared him of involvement; case still moved forward with me as the sole defendant.
  
  

• November 2010: I was convicted based on the theory of aiding and abetting, even after it was proven my co-defendant was not present.
  
  

Current Status (April 12, 2025)
I have now spent over 11 years fighting to prove my innocence, but I am still incarcerated. Despite several appeals and motions, I have not been able to obtain my complete case files or the necessary evidence to challenge the false testimony and inadequate representation. My requests for the Greektown Casino video footage and other crucial records have been denied. I have also been denied due process at every stage of the case.

As of August 24, 2021, it was revealed that there were no files available from police, prosecution, or FOIA requests. In July 2018, my case was reopened by the Wayne County Criminal Investigation Unit (C.I.U.), but as of now, I am still awaiting a resolution.

Despite the absence of evidence, I have been convicted of crimes that did not occur, and I need the help of those who are willing to fight for justice.

People Involved in My Case

• Attorneys
  
  

• Randall Upshaw (Retained)
  
  

• Joseph Niskar (Court-appointed)
  
  

• Clifford Woodard (Retained, deceased)
  
  

• Kristina L. Dunne (Previously retained)
  
  

• Prosecutors
  
  

• Mahmoud Awad
  
  

• Joshua Cooper Holman
  
  

• Khalid Najar
  
  

• Thomas Beadle
  
  

• Daniel Hebel
  
  

• Appeals
  
  

• Michael McCarthy (Direct)
  
  

• Larry Smith (Habeas)
  
  

• Judges
  
  

• Willie G. Lipscomb (Preliminary, 5/19/2010)
  
  

• James Callahan (Trial)
  
  

• Joseph Baltimore (Preliminary, 9/17/2010)
  
  

• Daniel Hathaway (Pre-Trial)
  
  

• Donald Knapp (Current Judge)
  
  

• Law Enforcement
  
  

• 9th Precinct DPD
  
  

• Detective Raymond Childs
  
  

• John Weiss
  
  

• Anthony Jones
  
  

• Gregory Jones
  
  

• Witnesses
  
  

• Weldon Davis (Manager at Greektown Casino)
  
  

• Enith Stokes (Potential witness)
  
  

• Alleged Victims
  
  

• Sarah Turner
  
  

• Suronda Hall
  
  

Case Numbers

• 9903-01 FC
  
  

• Related cases: 10005421-02 FC, 10063169-02
  
  

My Request
After more than a decade of fighting for justice, I urgently need support. I have exhausted all legal avenues with incomplete discovery, ineffective representation, and ignored evidence. I am seeking help to move forward with this case, obtain my missing records, and prove my innocence.

If you have any information or can assist in the investigation, please reach out. Any direction in this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,
Tamerra Washington (486364)
[WHV]