Delaware’s bans on assault weapons, large capacity mags remain in effect  A federal judge hearing a right-wing challenge against two common-sense gun safety measures in Delaware has ruled against the gun lobby on a critical question in Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association, Inc. et al. v. Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security et al.  In an […]

Federal judge ensures mifepristone access in Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Friday that Judge Thomas O. Rice of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington has issued an order reiterating that his injunction protecting access to mifepristone in 17 states — including Delaware — and the District of Columbia remains in […]

Recommendations include a whole-person approach to substance use disorder treatment and broadened non-opioid options for chronic pain treatment  The Delaware Drug Overdose Fatality Review Commission (DOFRC) has released its second annual report to Governor John Carney and the General Assembly, announced Attorney General Kathy Jennings. The report examines a sample of 108 cases from fatal overdoses that occurred […]

A Newark man has been indicted and arrested for a 2009 homicide following a cold case investigation. On April 24, 31-year-old Ricardo J. Vega was indicted on two counts of Murder 1st Degree for the killing of 19-year-old Justin Trnka. Trnka, also of Newark, was killed during an armed robbery on March17,2009. Potential charges for the armed robbery are subject to a statute of limitations […]

Order sends Delaware’s climate damage & deception lawsuit back to State court WASHINGTON — Today, the Supreme Court of the United States DENIED the petition for a writ of certiorari submitted by fossil fuel companies appealing their failure to move Delaware’s climate damage and deception lawsuit out of state court and into federal court.  The question […]

On May 11, 37-year-old Kyle Leonard pled guilty to Murder 2nd Degree in Kent County Superior Court. Leonard was sentenced to 40 years in prison, suspended after 30 years for 6 months of work release or home confinement, followed by two years of probation.   The conviction and sentence follow an investigation into Leonard fatally shooting his mother, […]

Three-year-old’s remains were found behind Smyrna softball field in 2019 On May 25,, Kristie Haas pled guilty to the lead charge of Murder by Abuse or Neglect First Degree for the killing of her three-year-old daughter, Emma Cole. In addition to Murder by Abuse or Neglect, Haas also pled guilty to three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and one count of Abuse of a […]

Prosecutors have secured indictments against four defendants charged with multiple carjackings, along with kidnapping, rape, and theft.   On June 5, the Department of Justice secured indictments against Defendants Tonnaire McNair-Matthews, 24, of Wilmington; David Hinson, 21, of Bear; Mahkiya Powell, 20, of Wilmington; and Michael Caldwell, 21, of Wilmington. The charges stem from an April, […]

Delaware to receive nearly $70 million to fight the opioid crisis Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings today announced the final approval of $17.3 billion in opioid agreements with drug makers Teva and Allergan and pharmacies CVS and Walgreens. Following successful state sign-on and subdivision sign-on periods, the defendants have committed to the deal and will start releasing funds […]

The Department of Justice has secured two additional felony charges in its case against the violent gang NorthPak as a result of the ongoing investigation led by Wilmington Police Department. “This investigation never stops running,” said Attorney General Jennings. “These charges are a reflection of the dogged determination of Wilmington PD and our prosecutors, who […]

Two Delaware women have been sentenced to probation and suspended prison time for tax-related crimes after falsely claiming thousands of dollars in itemized deductions on their tax returns and submitting falsified documents during their respective audits. The cases represent the first prosecutions brought under the new initiative between the Department of Justice and the Department of Finance targeting state tax fraud “These convictions are the result of great work by our prosecutors and our […]

Justices return PCB pollution case to Superior Court The Delaware Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that Attorney General Kathy Jennings’ case against agrochemical giant Monsanto can move forward in Superior Court.   “We thank the Court for its unanimous affirmation that our case can move forward in Superior Court,” said AG Jennings. “This ruling is […]

Three men have been indicted in the murder of a Laurel High School senior. On June 26, Jhalir Henry, 27, of Delmar; Donregus Holland, 28, of Hurlock, MD; and Shyheem Latham-Purnell, 21, of Laurel were indicted by a Sussex County grand jury following an investigation into the April 14 shooting of 18-year-old Corey J. Mumford at Wexford Village […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings released the following statement Thursday after the Consumer Protection Financial Bureau and 11 states — including Delaware — announced a lawsuit against tech sales “bootcamp” Prehired, which Jennings previously announced the DOJ was investigating: “I applaud the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and our sister states for taking action to hold Prehired […]

Prosecutors have secured three convictions against Camden Mayor Justin King over a physical confrontation he began with two victims, as well as his subsequent lack of candor with investigators. King, 41, was until recently the mayor of Camden, Delaware and owns several businesses in the area. On February 25, King confronted two male victims, both […]

A Townsend man has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of four family members. On August 18, Donald Grier Jr., 41, was sentenced to life plus 25 years in prison in New Castle County Superior Court after pleading Guilty But Mentally Ill to one count of Murder 1st Degree and one count […]

A Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison for violent assault and robbery. On August 25, 2023, Zykeem Fields, 23, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, followed by probation, by a Superior Court judge. Fields, who lived part-time in Wilmington, pleaded guilty to felony charges of Assault 1st Degree and Robbery 1st Degree following a brutal attack in 2022.   On September 28, 2022, Fields followed […]

In the wake of an uptick in reports of financial exploitation of seniors, Attorney General Kathy Jennings and the Delaware DOJ’s Investor Protection Unit (“IPU”) is cautioning seniors to be vigilant for scams. Delaware law requires banks, credit unions, and certain other financial institutions to report suspected exploitation of a senior or vulnerable adult to the IPU. […]

A Wilmington man has been sentenced to prison time for a fatal shooting. On September 1, 2023, Dean Sutton Jr. was sentenced to ten years in prison by a Superior Court Judge for convictions of Manslaughter and Reckless Endangering 1st Degree following an investigation into a 2021 shooting. At trial, Sutton claimed to have acted […]

Literacy Month is intended to recognize the extensive efforts of literacy partners to promote reading as an essential skill and a lifelong pleasure.

A New Castle man has been sentenced to life in prison following convictions in two domestic violence cases. On September 22, David Jewell, 47, was declared a habitual offender and sentenced to life in prison for convictions of felony Stalking, Harassment, and 24 counts of Terroristic Threatening, following an investigation into hundreds of violent phone calls and messages targeting two victims, one of whom was a […]

Attorney General Jennings announced today that Delaware has reached a multistate settlement with software company Blackbaud for its deficient data security practices and response to a 2020 ransomware event that exposed the personal information of millions of consumers across the United States. Under the settlement, Blackbaud has agreed to overhaul its data security and breach […]

Plea agreement brings lengthy prison time, resolves five pending cases  On October 2, 34-year-old Timothy Thomas of Wilmington pleaded guilty to Murder 2nd Degree and Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited in New Castle County Superior Court following an investigation into the July 2020 shooting of Andre Hickson. “I am grateful to our prosecutors and the Wilmington Police Department for their […]

Prosecutors have convicted a Delmar man for the murder of Cpl. Keith Heacook in April 2021. Randon Wilkerson, 32, will serve the rest of his life in prison following a stipulated non-jury trial in which he was convicted of 16 charges, including two counts of Murder 1st Degree and 11 other felonies. “Cpl. Keith Heacook served […]

Attorney General Jennings announced today that Delaware, along with 32 other attorneys general, has reached a settlement with healthcare clearinghouse Inmediata for a coding issue that exposed the protected health information (“PHI”) of approximately 1.5 million consumers for almost three years. Under the settlement, Inmediata has agreed to overhaul its data security and breach notification […]

Attorney General Jennings joined a multistate coalition of attorneys general announcing a $10 million settlement with payment processor ACI Worldwide over a 2021 testing error that led to the attempted unauthorized withdrawal of $2.3 billion from the accounts of mortgage-holders. This case was investigated and negotiated with the state financial regulators. The state regulators have entered […]

The Delaware Department of Justice has secured multiple felony convictions against a Kent County couple charged with the serial abuse and torture of their children, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Wednesday. “These are the cases that keep us up at night,” said Attorney General Jennings. “The pain that these children endured — and that it […]

A Claymont man has pleaded guilty to several charges in the 2022 murder of Kevin Goodson, which means that all three men responsible for the murder are convicted and face up to life in prison. On October 10, 21-year-old Justin Locke pled guilty to Murder 2nd Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, Conspiracy 1st Degree and Kidnapping 1st Degree in New […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced today that the Department of Justice has settled its lawsuit against a developer for allegedly having misled residents at Noble’s Pond, a 55+ community outside Dover, Delaware and will begin making payments to residents.  The Department’s complaint, filed in 2019, included charges that Regal Builders, LLC, its president, and related entities, violated Delaware law by […]

An Elsmere man will serve a lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty to multiple felonies, including Delaware’s first conviction under a Forced Labor statute originally passed in 2014. On October 13, Martin Ortiz-Lozano, 34, was sentenced to fifteen years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of Child Abuse in the First Degree and one […]

Attorney General seeks damages, including costs necessary to restore impacted natural resources and funding for State-run public health programs. Attorney General Kathleen Jennings announced that the Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit to hold numerous companies accountable for contaminating Delaware’s natural resources with per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) traceable to the use and disposal […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings’ Consumer Protection Unit promulgated final regulations that establish clear rules of the road for the Home Improvement Services industry in Delaware.  The regulations, issued pursuant to the Consumer Fraud Act, become effective today, November 1. The Regulation is based on hundreds of complaints received by the Department of Justice, and it requires a number […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Tuesday that a New Castle County jury convicted Keith Gibson of 25 charges,including two counts of murder, relating to a brutal crime spree in the summer of 2021. He faces a mandatory life sentence. “Our prosecutors did phenomenal work on a deeply disturbing case,” said Attorney General Jennings. “The defendant […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Friday that Delaware’s Medicaid program would receive $7,666,379.00 following a settlement that would resolve federal False Claims Act (FCA) and Delaware False Claims and Reporting Act (DFCRA) allegations against Christiana Care Health System (CCHS). The case, which was initiated by a whistleblower, alleges that CHSS provided free or below-market value […]

Flanked by law enforcement leaders, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Monday that law enforcement’s focus on violent criminals and gun offenders has driven Delaware’s violent crime rates to their lowest point since the State began tracking the statistic — a 40% decline since 2008. “I’ve never seen another jurisdiction accomplish the things that Delaware is […]

On January 5, Timothy Thomas, 34, of Newark was sentenced to 25 years in prison for convictions of Murder 2nd Degree and Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited. Thomas previously submitted a guilty plea in October following an investigation into the shooting of Andre Hickson, 40, on July 6, 2020. “When you commit […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings today co-led a coalition of 18 attorneys general filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit. The coalition urged the court to revisit an opinion striking down a Pennsylvania law prohibiting individuals under the age of 21 from carrying concealed weapons in public and imposing […]

The Delaware Department of Justice secured a felony conviction in the first of several pending cases stemming from an ongoing investigation by the Delaware Division of Revenue and the Department of Justice into fraud related to the 2022 Delaware Relief Rebate Program. That program provided Delaware residents with a one-time $300.00 check and was intended […]

A Seaford pastor has been arrested and charged with 10 felony counts of Dealing in Child Pornography, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Thursday.  James R. Dryden, 74, was arrested February 15 following an Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC) investigation led by the Delaware Department of Justice and Delaware State Police. ICAC’s investigation was spurred […]

Two people have pleaded guilty in relation to the assault and fatal shooting of 19-year-old Za’Quan Blackwell. On February 2, Ah’Kee Flonnory of Wilmington pleaded guilty to Manslaughter, and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony; Armani Rogers, 20, of New Castle pleaded guilty to Assault 2nd Degree.  “This was a tragic loss […]

A Wilmington man has been convicted of several felonies, including three separate counts of Attempted Murder, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Wednesday.   “An extremely violent gun offender will spend the rest of his life in prison because of excellent collaboration between Wilmington PD, prosecutors, and federal law enforcement,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “These cases […]

PHILADEPHIA — The Attorneys General of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania reiterated their support for common sense gun safety laws today as attorneys for the States of Delaware and New Jersey delivered oral arguments defending landmark gun safety legislation. In Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association v. Delaware Department of Safety & Homeland Security, currently before the […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Wednesday that 41-year-old Keith Gibson was declared a Habitual Offender and sentenced in New Castle County Superior Court to seven life terms, plus 296 years in prison for 22 convictions, including four counts of murder, relating to a brutal crime spree in the summer of 2021 that claimed the lives […]

A Wilmington man has been convicted of the January 2015 murder of 16-year-old Jordan Ellerbe. Oliver “Butter” Henry, 25, has pleaded guilty to Murder 2nd Degree and faces a minimum 15 years in prison.  Ellerbe’s murder ignited a rapidly accelerating feud between two rival gangs, Shoot to Kill and Only My Brothers. In the months and […]

Prosecutors with the Delaware Department of Justice have secured 56 new felony convictions—including two first-degree murders and a litany of gun offenses—in a trial against the last remaining defendant in the State’s yearslong case against the violent gang NorthPak, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Monday.  “I’m grateful for the police and prosecutors who answered the […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings has obtained a preliminary victory for residents of the Pine Haven manufactured home community after the community owner, Blue Beach Bungalows DE, LLC, violated statutory protections afforded to the residents. An administrative hearing officer issued an opinion last Thursday, April 4th, finding that Blue Beach has willfully violated Delaware’s Consumer Fraud […]

A Wilmington man has pled guilty to charges stemming from the 2018 murder of Richard Young. On April 22, 24-year-old Nasir Anderson pled guilty to Murder Second Degree, Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, Robbery First Degree and Conspiracy Second Degree in New Castle County Superior Court. The plea follows a six-year […]

A Wilmington man has pled guilty to murder charges stemming from the 2022 killing of Bruce Wright. On April 22, 2024, Marcus Bailey, 20, pled guilty to Murder Second Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony in Kent County Superior Court. The plea follows an investigation into the shooting of […]

Delaware businesses will find topical information about issues affecting their bottom line at the Delaware Department of Labor 10th Employer Conference, May 16, 2013 at Chase Center on the Riverfront.

Governor Markell signed House Bill 175 which will place tighter controls on workers compensation medical costs, while improving the state’s workplace safety program and more effectively encouraging injured individuals to return to work.