on

AG Jennings’ Consumer Protection Unit files Action Against Unlicensed Debt-Management Services Company

Attorney General Kathy Jennings’ Consumer Protection Unit announced Monday that it filed an administrative lawsuit against Centerdon Group, Inc. n/k/a Hilvanim Group, Inc., a California corporation, for violating the Delaware Uniform Debt-Management Services Act, the Delaware Consumer Fraud Act and the Delaware Deceptive Trade Practices Act. “Delawareans who are struggling with debt deserve our help, […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News
  • Attorney General Kathy Jennings
  • Consumer Protection Unit

on

Overdose Review Commission Releases Annual Report

Recommendations include housing, trauma training, expanding recovery resources in the criminal justice system The Delaware Drug Overdose Fatality Review Commission (DOFRC) has released its second annual report to Governor John Carney and the General Assembly. The 18-page report, released Tuesday, details five policy recommendations based on its review of a sample of 130 overdose fatalities […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News
  • Attorney General Kathy Jennings
  • Delaware Drug Overdose Fatality Review Commission

on

AG Jennings Shuts Down Massive Charity Fraud Telefunding Operation

Defendants placed more than 1.3 billion deceptive fundraising calls claiming to support veterans, children, firefighters The Delaware Department of Justice, along with the Federal Trade Commission and 46 agencies from 38 states and the District of Columbia, has stopped a massive telefunding operation that bombarded 67 million consumers with 1.3 billion deceptive charitable fundraising calls, […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News
  • Attorney General Kathy Jennings

on

Dover Man Sentenced To A Total 125 Years In Prison For Sexual Abuse And Rape Of Minor

Potential victims encouraged to contact (302) 577-5293 or ReportAbuse@delaware.gov   Tyrone Clark, 64, has been sentenced to a total of 125 years for the rape and abuse of a 12-year-old child in his care.  “No crime is more offensive, more heinous, and more dangerous than the sexual abuse of a child,” said Attorney General Jennings. “I’m grateful to […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Attention Investors – Metals.com, Tower Equity, Chase Metals, and Barrick Capital Receivership Claim Deadline

The Investor Protection Unit of the Delaware Department of Justice is encouraging anyone who invested with precious metals dealers Metals.com, Tower Equity, Chase Metals, or Barrick Capital to learn more about whether they may have been defrauded and the process for potentially recovering some of their losses. In September, the Investor Protection Unit joined the […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Former Wilmington Police Officer Faces Felony Charges Following Grand Jury Indictment

Attorney General Kathy Jennings and the DOJ’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust announced Tuesday that a grand jury has indicted James MacColl, formerly a corporal of the Wilmington Police Department, on two felonies and one misdemeanor. MacColl, 39, is charged with Providing a False Statement to Law Enforcement, Tampering with Physical Evidence, and Official Misconduct for […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Attorney General Jennings Announces Multistate Settlement with Boston Scientific Corporation

Attorney General Jennings announced Monday a settlement with Boston Scientific Corporation (Boston), a medical device manufacturer, to resolve allegations of deceptive marketing of its transvaginal surgical mesh devices for patients. The multistate settlement follows a 2019 settlement with Johnson & Johnson, Ethicon, Inc. and a 2020 settlement with C.R. Bard, Inc. for similar conduct. Surgical […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Dejoynay Ferguson pleads guilty to murder, abuse at Bear daycare facility

A New Castle woman has pleaded guilty to Murder by Abuse First Degree, 6 counts of Child Abuse First Degree, and 2 counts of Child Abuse Second Degree. Following an extensive investigation by the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit and the Delaware Department of Justice, a grand jury indicted Dejoynay Ferguson in July for the repeated […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Statement from Attorney General Jennings on Delmar attack

My heart is heavy tonight for three innocent victims: Cpl. Keith Heacook of the Delmar Police Department, who is being treated for grave injuries he suffered in an attack this morning, and an elderly couple who also suffered severe injuries at the hands of the same attacker. DOJ personnel have been onsite in Delmar since […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Statement from Attorney General Jennings on loss of Cpl. Keith Heacook

These are the worst moments any of us can imagine: mourning the loss of a member of our law enforcement family.  Cpl. Keith Heacook served his Department and his community honorably and faithfully for more than two decades – a family man, a public servant, and a protector of his community until his final days. […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

AG Jennings applauds Senate passage of opioid settlement legislation

The State Senate unanimously passed legislation Wednesday that would formalize a responsible, independent, and collaborative process to allocate the significant funds the State has received, and will continue to receive, from opioid settlements. Senate Bill 166, sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Hansen and House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, and supported by Attorney General Kathy Jennings, would establish […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Statement from AG Jennings on final passage of House Bill 195

The First State is one giant step closer to being a national leader on transparency.  I’m thrilled that more than a year’s worth of hard work and dedication now means that a statewide body camera program heads to the Governor’s desk. This will mean stronger community relationships, trust, and accountability. This legislation makes Delaware a […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Dejoynay Ferguson Sentenced to Life In Prison for Murder, Abuse of Child Victims

A Superior Court has sentenced a New Castle woman to life in prison for the repeated abuse and murder of a child, and the abuse of four other children in her care at a daycare facility where she was employed. Dejoynay Ferguson pleaded guilty in April to Murder by Abuse First Degree, 6 counts of […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Statement from AG Jennings on House passage of Senate Bill 147

Today Delaware is ready to fix one of America’s weakest use-of-force laws, period. This issue has come up again and again throughout our state’s debate on police reform. The need for reform is overwhelming: not only the Department of Justice, but police reform advocates and the police themselves all recognize the need to better align […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Keith Gibson Indicted On 41 Felony Charges For Multiple Murders, Assaults, And Robberies

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Tuesday that a Pennsylvania man has been formally charged with 41 felonies, including the murders of two people and the attempted murder, assaults, and/or robbery of four other victims, among other offenses. Prosecutors allege that Keith Gibson, 39, went on a brutal crime spree in Delaware, killing two victims and […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

AG Jennings Sues Google for Antitrust Law Violation

Complaint alleges Google illegally maintains App Store monopoly Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Thursday that Delaware and other state have filed suit against Google, alleging exclusionary conduct relating to the Google Play Store for Android mobile devices and Google Billing.  This antitrust lawsuit is the newest legal action against the tech giant, claiming illegal, anti-competitive, […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

AG Jennings Announces $26 Billion Agreement With Opioid Distributors/Manufacturer

Jennings held out from a prior deal that would have been $4 billion less Attorney General Jennings announced a historic $26 billion settlement with the nation’s three major pharmaceutical distributors and one of its largest opioid manufacturers, which will help bring desperately needed relief to those struggling with opioid addiction. The agreement resolves investigations and […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DOJ Secures Conviction In 2018 Double Murder

Prosecutors have secured the conviction of a Newport man in 2018 double murder committed near Prices Corner. Glenford Blackwood was found guilty of two counts of Murder First Degree after prosecutors showed that he had murdered Doris Dorsey, 15, and Vincent DiMenco, 36. Blackwood was also found guilty on two charges of Attempted Murder for […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

King of Prussia Man Indicted In Murder Investigation

Police seek information on suspect Prosecutors have secured the indictment of Justin Michael Chaffier in a February 2021 killing. Chaffier, 35, is charged with Murder First Degree and Stalking following a New Castle County police investigation into the murder of Nicole Crawford. “Nobody should ever have to know the pain that the Crawford family is […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DCRPT secures convictions against ex-Connections employee

Convictions secured after former DOC nurse was caught lying to investigators The Delaware Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust (DCRPT) has secured two misdemeanor convictions against a former employee of Connections, which at the time served as the Department of Correction’s (DOC) medical contractor. “Delawareans deserve integrity from every publicly paid […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DCRPT convicts former Dewey Beach police officer for 2019 assault

Ex-officer receives felony conviction, permanently stripped of badge and gun Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Wednesday that the Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust (DCRPT) has convicted a former Dewey Beach police officer for assaulting an innocent, injured person and then lying to the Court to have the victim incarcerated. “Abuse of authority, brutality, and dishonesty […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

AG Jennings sues Monsanto for PCB contamination

Claims include public nuisance, trespass and unjust enrichment Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings filed a lawsuit Wednesday against agrochemical giant Monsanto and two of its corporate spinoffs for long-lasting damage to Delaware’s natural resources. The lawsuit seeks to recover damages and clean-up costs associated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), extremely toxic and persistent chemicals which Monsanto […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Statement from AG Jennings On Conviction of Michael Hastings

Attorney General Kathy Jennings released the following statement Thursday after the Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust secured a jury conviction against a Dover man for two violent felonies.  Originally indicted in October 2020 after removing and pointing a handgun toward others during a counter-protest, Michael Hastings was convicted today of Reckless Endangering 1st […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Statement from AG Jennings on loss of former Gov. Ruth Ann Minner

Today we lost one of the most remarkable women our State has ever known: former Governor Ruth Ann Minner. By the time Ruth Ann Minner broke her second glass ceiling as Governor — she was also our first female Lt. Governor — she had already recorded decades of public service. From the House of Representatives […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Former Wilmington City Council President Convicted of Official Misconduct

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Monday that the Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust (DCRPT) has convicted former Wilmington City Council President Theopalis Gregory for Official Misconduct. “This conviction affirms that our state will not tolerate abusing public office and enriching oneself at the taxpayers’ expense,” said Attorney General Jennings. “Delawareans deserve integrity and, […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

AG Jennings joins nationwide investigation into Instagram’s impact on youth

Attorney General Jennings today joined a nationwide investigation into Meta Platforms, Inc., formerly known as Facebook, for providing and promoting its social media platform – Instagram – to children and young adults despite knowing that such use is associated with physical and mental health harms. Attorneys General across the country are examining whether the company […]




on

Serial Rapist Found Guilty On All Charges

Prosecutors have convicted Kwesi Hudson on 15 charges, including multiple felonies. Hudson, 50, was indicted in 2018 for a string of robberies, kidnappings, and sexual assault against three victims in February and March of 2017. “These heinous crimes victimized three women and terrorized an entire community for months,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “I’m grateful […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DOJ Secures Conviction, Sentences In Violent Gun Cases

z Convenience Market on Governor



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Attorney General Jennings announces $1.85 billion Navient settlement 

More than 1,500 Delaware borrowers to see relief Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Thursday that Navient, one of the nation’s largest student loan servicers, will provide $1.85 billion in relief to student borrowers under a multistate settlement stemming from allegations of widespread unfair, deceptive, and predatory practices. More than 97% of Delaware’s $5.34 million share […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust Secures First Hate Crime Conviction

Defendant convicted of racist harassment of Governor’s employee The Attorney General’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust (DCRPT) secured a historic guilty verdict in a felony hate crimes case, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Thursday. A New Castle County jury convicted Defendant Matthew Gregg of Hate Crimes, Harassment, and Terroristic Threatening, for repeatedly verbally […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

AG Jennings, ATF, DSP Announce 91 Felony Charges Against Sussex County Straw Purchasers

Guns used in Dover homicide, New Castle County suicide; many remain unrecovered Attorney General Kathy Jennings joined law enforcement and prosecutors Wednesday to announce that the DOJ has secured 87 felony charges against five defendants who are collectively charged with illegally purchasing and providing to others more than 60 firearms, including guns recovered at the […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Former Dover Police Officer Pleads Guilty To DUI, Official Misconduct

Defendant banned from law enforcement, required to undergo treatment Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Tuesday that the Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust (DCRPT) has reached a pre-indictment plea agreement with a former Dover police officer who experienced an opioid overdose in his patrol vehicle and later tested positive for fentanyl and marijuana. “This […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

AG Jennings Alerts Consumers Impacted By 2021 T-Mobile Data Breach To Take Steps To Protect Their Personal Information

Attorney General Kathleen Jennings urges all Delaware residents who believe they were impacted by the data breach announced by T-Mobile in August 2021 to take appropriate steps to protect their information from identity theft. On August 17,  T-Mobile reported a massive data breach compromising the sensitive personal information of millions of current, former, and prospective […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

AG Jennings Announces $6 Billion National Settlement In Principle With Purdue Pharma and Sackler family

Jennings successfully appealed from original deal, more than doubling Delaware’s recovery with up to $25 million extra Institutions may remove Sackler name from buildings, scholarships; Sacklers to be banned from opioid business and Purdue to dissolve Attorney General Jennings announced today a tentative settlement worth as much as $6 billion with Purdue Pharma and the Sackler family […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Human Trafficking Unit’s First Month Yields Three Illicit Massage Parlor Shutdowns, Felony Charges

Three illicit massage establishments (IMEs) were shut down in February, the first full month of operation for the DOJ’s first Human Trafficking Unit (HTU), Attorney General Jennings announced Thursday. “These investigations highlight a continuing pattern that we’ve seen time and time again: human trafficking often happens in plain sight,” said Attorney General Jennings. “These were […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Three Men Sentenced in Connection With Operation Rise-N-Shyne

Defendants sentenced to total of 47 years for gun, drug offenses Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Friday that the Department of Justice secured drug and firearms sentences in February against three Kent County men who were arrested in connection with the joint state/federal Operation Rise-N-Shyne investigation. “Justice called for robust sentences in these cases,” said […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DOJ Convicts Kent County Man of 77 Counts Related to Sexual Abuse of Children 

Defendant facing life in prison for repeatedly raping two juvenile victims, ages 8 and 14 After one week of trial, a Kent County jury convicted a Magnolia man of 77 felony offenses in connection with the serial sexual abuse of two juvenile children. Richard Haines, 59, faces a 462-year minimum mandatory sentence and will be required […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DCRPT Secures Guilty Plea, Two Indictments In Board Of Pardons Cases

Defendants face felony charges, including Perjury, for submitting fake documents The DOJ’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust has secured a guilty plea to Perjury, and two indictments on Perjury and Forgery charges, against three Delaware men who submitted forged documents in their applications to the Delaware Board of Pardons. “You can’t begin a second chance with […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DCRPT Indicts Officer for Sexual Solicitation of a Child

DOJ’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust indicted Monday a former Wilmington Police Department (WPD) after an investigation revealed that he sent lewd text messages to a 17-year-old whom he met while on duty. “The facts of this case are grave and disturbing,” said Attorney General Jennings. “The defendant in this case swore an […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

AG Jennings Issues Consumer, Investor Advisories Related to the Conflict in Ukraine 

“It speaks volumes of our neighbors that so many Delawareans have taken action to help the Ukrainian people,” said Attorney General Jennings.  “Unfortunately, scammers are shameless and see a crisis as an opportunity. To protect yourself, and to ensure that your donations reach people in need, everyone should take steps to ensure that their contributions go to legitimate causes.  My office will do its part in ensuring that those who seek to profit from the pain and suffering of the Ukrainian people are investigated and brought to justice.”



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DOJ releases February violent crime prosecution recap

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Friday that the Department of Justice charged 130 gun offenders and secured more than 245 total years in prison sentences on 18 gun convictions in the month of February.  Since 2019, the DOJ has an 83% conviction rate in Superior Court gun cases. “My first priority is combatting violent crime—particularly gun […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DCRPT Secures Convictions Against Former Land Bank Director

The Delaware Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust (DCRPT) has secured two convictions against William Freeborn, the former Executive Director of the Wilmington Neighborhood Conservancy Land Bank (WNCLB). “If you abuse the public’s trust we will hold you accountable,” said Attorney General Jennings. “The defendant used a position of public confidence to […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DOJ Releases March Violent Crime Prosecution Recap 

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Friday that the Department of Justice charged 102 gun offenders and secured 279.5 total years in prison sentences on 67 gun convictions in the month of March. “My first priority is combatting violent crime—particularly gun crimes,” said AG Jennings.  “Gun violence is a both a national crisis and a local one. In Delaware, […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DOJ, Community Partners, Amazon to Host Expungement and Employment fair April 28 

In honor of Second Chance Month, the Delaware DOJ’s Community Engagement Unit is partnering with the Delaware Center for Justice and several community groups to host a joint job fair and expungement clinic at the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center in New Castle on Thursday, April 28 from 12 p.m. – 6 p.m. The […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DCRPT Secures Prison Sentence in Sussex County Hate Crime

A Sussex County man has been sentenced to two years in prison for a hate crime involving a neighbor. James Raab, of Laurel, was sentenced on April 22 after pleading guilty to felony Hate Crime, Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony, Aggravated Menacing, and Resisting Arrest. Raab, 38, was arrested […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Attorney General Jennings Announces $141 Million TurboTax Settlement

All 50 states reach agreement with Intuit for deceiving low-income Americans into paying for free tax services Attorney General Kathy Jennings today secured over $400,000 for low-income Delawareans from the owner of TurboTax, Intuit Inc. (Intuit), for deceiving Delaware consumers into paying for tax services that should have been free. As a result of a […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Attorney General Jennings announces investigation into tech sales bootcamp

Attorney General Kathleen Jennings announced today that the Delaware Department of Justice Consumer Protection Unit is investigating tech sales bootcamp Prehired and its CEO, Joshua Jordan. The investigation began in March, after Prehired filed nearly 300 debt-collection lawsuits in the Delaware Justice of the Peace Court seeking to enforce its income share agreements. Prehired started […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

DOJ, Wilmington PD Indict Gun Offenders on 75 Charges

Indictment includes multiple Attempted Murder, Vehicle Theft charges Four Wilmington men have been indicted following an investigation into a series of connected events in which the defendants are alleged to have stolen motor vehicles and used them in shootings. The defendants – Kyair Keys, Walike Parham, Markel Richards, and Jahmir Morris-Whit – collectively face 75 […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Statement from AG Jennings on Dobbs ruling

Attorney General Kathy Jennings released the following statement today regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization: “Just one day after dramatically curtailing states’ rights to regulate guns, the Supreme Court has upended a half-century of legal precedent by permitting states to regulate women’s most basic freedom — control over […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News

on

Statement from AG Jennings on Supreme Court’s Climate Ruling

Attorney General Kathy Jennings released today the following statement regarding the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency: “The Supreme Court’s ruling is the latest in a dangerous, disgraceful pattern of decisions that risk the health of our neighbors, of our state, and now the very fate of our planet. The […]



  • Department of Justice
  • Department of Justice Press Releases
  • News