Darryl Fulton Wrongfully Spent 23 Years Behind Bars, Bank Refuses To Deposit His Restitution Check

Darryl Fulton spent over two decades behind bars for a murder he did not commit. 

When he attempted to deposit the wrongful conviction check of more than $160,000 rectifying his pain and suffering, the bank refused to accept it.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Fulton tried to deposit the check twice and was denied on both attempts. However, on the second attempt, Chase Bank claimed it was a misunderstanding and a mistake on their part for not depositing the check.

“We did offer to deposit the check on his return visit and have reached out to him to clear up any confusion,” the bank said. “We regret the error and apologize for the inconvenience.”

The state of Illinois granted Fulton a $169,876 check as restitution for the 23 years he was imprisoned for the murder of Antwinica Bridgeman. Fulton and Nevest Coleman were sentenced to life in prison in 1994.

Prosecutors dropped the charges with Fulton and Coleman exonerated last year when new DNA testing found semen stains linking her death to a serial rapist, CBS Chicago reported. 

“I find it particularly outrageous because he was wrongfully convicted,” Kathleen Zellner, his attorney, said. “The check is from the state of Illinois to him, and I can’t attribute any other reason except they’re discriminating against him because he’s a black male.”

The Tribune reports Zellner disputed Chase’s willingness to accept the check and said Fulton would be changing banks.

“I’m just trying to deposit my check,” Fulton said. “I just wanted to be treated like anyone else.”