The Case of John “Divine G” Whitfield
For 25 years, John “Divine G” Whitfield suffered behind bars for a crime he did not commit. He has been home for over a decade, but still forced to carry the label of felon. Despite overwhelming evidence proving his innocence, his case has languished in legal limbo — ignored, delayed, and unjustly denied a fresh start. It’s time to demand action!
Who Is Divine G?
John “Divine G” Whitfield is the subject of the critically acclaimed, Oscar-nominated film Sing Sing, in which Colman Domingo’s powerhouse portrayal of Divine G earned him an Academy Award nomination. Yet, while his on-screen depiction celebrates his resilience, the real Divine G continues to fight a battle for justice that has spanned over three decades.
A Gross Miscarriage of Justice
Divine G was convicted based largely on the testimony of a single, discredited informant — Richard Doyle — a convicted criminal and self-admitted crack addict whose credibility has been thoroughly undermined. At his sentencing, Judge Francis X. Egitto himself noted that without Doyle’s testimony, there was no case. Since that time, overwhelming evidence has emerged proving Divine G’s innocence, including:
Witness Testimonies & Confessions:
Wesley Harold, Divine G’s so-called co-defendant, admitted to committing the crime alongside another man, Patrick from Queens—clearly not Divine G, whose identity and background do not match theirs.
Ralph Harold, Wesley’s brother, confirmed that Wesley confessed the crime to him, implicating only Wesley and Patrick.
Multiple eyewitnesses, including Majorie Shack and other independent witnesses, have placed the actual perpetrators at the scene— and they were not Divine G.
Alibi Evidence:
Bryant Devery provided an affidavit confirming that he was with Divine G from early afternoon until the early hours of the morning on the day of the crime.
Alternative Suspect:
An alternative suspect, entangled in a dangerous love triangle with the victim and known for violent behavior, presents a far more plausible culprit than the wrongly convicted Divine G.
A System Failing the Innocent
After his release on parole — with the help of The Deskovic Foundation — Divine G has never stopped fighting for exoneration. Despite uncovering new, compelling evidence and having influential advocates Jeffrey Deskovic and exoneration expert Oscar Michelen now representing him, his application with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Conviction Review Unit (CRU) has been stalled for over seven years. In January 2025, the CRU finally assigned a new attorney to review the matter, but we cannot let it languish there any longer; the case must be made a priority because of how many years it has sat at the CRU office. We need to urge the CRU to reinvestigate the case quickly and thoroughly to finally bring an end to Divine G’s wrongful conviction.
Take Action noW!
Sign the Petition: Let your voice be heard and demand that Divine G’s case be promptly and fairly re-examined.
Share Widely: Spread the word on social media, with local media outlets, and among your friends and family.
Demand Justice: Urge your local representatives and those in the criminal justice system to stand against wrongful convictions and fight for true justice by supporting exonerations and bills aimed at preventing wrongful convictions.
Your Voice Matters
Public support is critical. By signing this petition, you demand that the CRU finally review Divine G’s case and correct this grave injustice. It’s a call to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez to have his Conviction Review Unit act; to not delay; to reassess the mountain of new evidence; and to grant Divine G the exoneration he so desperately deserves.