Jalil Richardson, a Charlotte resident, spent nearly three months behind bars after Jacksonville Sheriff's Office relied on AI facial‑recognition that matched him to a stolen‑car suspect with 85 percent confidence. The technology linked a fake Georgia ID shown in surveillance to Richardson, prompting an arrest warrant that sent him from Mecklenburg County Jail to a Florida facility.

Court filings reveal Richardson proved he was working 400 miles away when the car sale occurred, yet investigators never verified his location. His attorney submitted time‑sheet evidence for months, but prosecutors only dropped the charges a year after the case opened. Richardson claims racial profiling influenced the line‑up that singled him out, noting the description given to officers did not match his appearance.

The ordeal stripped Richardson of his job, home and custody of two children, and his mugshot remains online despite the dismissal. The sheriff’s office defended its use of facial‑recognition as one tool among many, but the case highlights growing concerns about AI accuracy and due‑process safeguards. Richardson now seeks resources to rebuild his life.