The Delaware Department of Justice has filed suit against the developer of The Villages of Noble’s Pond, an 879-lot “55-plus” community in Kent County, for numerous violations of the Consumer Fraud Act, the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and other Delaware laws protecting consumers against unlawful and predatory behavior. Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced the filing […]

A member of the STK (Shoot to Kill) gang faces a minimum of 28 years in prison after his conviction for the 2017 murder of a rival gang member. Deputy Attorneys Daniel McBride and Michael DegliObizzi secured the conviction of 20-year-old Dai’yann Wharton in a bench trial in Superior Court. In March 2017, Wharton killed […]

Recommendations include expanded residential treatment, public education, and naloxone access The Delaware Drug Overdose Fatality Review Commission (DOFRC) has released its first annual report to Governor John Carney and the General Assembly with recommendations aimed at reducing overdose deaths in Delaware based on review of the circumstances of deaths over the past year. The 23-page […]

Wilmington man pleads guilty to murder and 2 other shootings A 26-year-old New Castle man will spend the rest of his life in prison for murder. A Superior Court judge sentenced Shaheed Matthews for the December 2017 fatal shooting of Antoine Terry, 23, of New Castle shortly after Terry had been at Matthew’s home on […]

A Wilmington man charged with killing a 16-year-old girl has pleaded guilty. Deputy Attorneys General John Downs and Timothy Maguire secured the plea from Shyheim Warren, 25. In April 2017, Warren fatally shot Tynesia Cephas as she tried to break up a large fight in front of a home on the 900 block of North […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings on Tuesday released the following statement regarding Kili Mayfield’s conviction in Superior Court: Justice was served today. A man who raped three women, including beating and strangling one victim until she lost consciousness, has been convicted of his crimes. I am proud of the work of our prosecutors, paralegals, and social […]

Other defendants face prison time for weapons, assault, and strangulation charges A 17-year-old from Middletown pleaded guilty to charges in Superior Court for the fatal shooting of another teenager. Derrick Caudle pleaded to Murder Second Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony for the 2018 killing of Todd Dorn, 18, […]

$600 million settlement over 2017 Equifax data breach includes up to $425 million in consumer restitution Attorney General Kathy Jennings Monday announced a settlement with Equifax as the result of an investigation into the largest-ever breach of consumer data. Under the terms of the settlement, Equifax agreed to provide a single Consumer Restitution Fund of […]

Murder, vehicular assault, and drug convictions mean prison for other defendants A 64-year-old Felton man was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison for raping a child repeatedly over the course of many years starting in the late 1990s. Deputy Attorney General Kathleen Dickerson secured the sentence for Monte Brown, who in April, pleaded […]

Coalition of 21 attorneys general argues changes violate federal law and judicial precedent Attorney General Kathy Jennings joined Friday a group of 21 state attorneys general to challenge the Trump administration’s proposed changes to asylum standards. If implemented, these changes would allow the Executive branch to arbitrarily deny asylum claims to immigrants seeking haven from […]

Department of Justice hosts forum on re-entry after incarceration A 31-year-old Georgetown man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to murdering his grandmother. Deputy Attorneys General Michael Tipton and Amanda Nyman secured the plea and sentence for George Bailey, III. In October 2018, Bailey choked 69-year-old Lorraine Bradley to death […]

The Delaware Department of Justice’s Family Division announced that a new targeting of child support absconders has resulted in location of individuals who collectively owe more than $1 million in child support payments in order for them to begin paying support to their families. Led by Deputy Attorney General Phyllis Scully, Special Investigator William McGillan, […]

A Queens, NY man was sentenced by a Superior Court judge for a Wilmington murder. In September 2017, Sandy Lashley, 31, shot and killed Allen Melton of Wilmington after Melton attempted to intervene in an altercation on Cedar Street between his girlfriend and Lashley’s female friend. Lashley pleaded guilty in May to Murder Second Degree […]

The Delaware Department of Justice Consumer Protection Unit is alerting residents of a phone scam regarding missed jury duty service. Similar scams have been reported in the past.

A Magnolia man has been sentenced by a Superior Court judge for continuous sexual abuse of a child. Emmanuel Wright, 20, engaged in a pattern of sexual and physical abuse began when the victim was 12 years old and continued for approximately 2 years until Wright was arrested in late 2018. An investigation found Wright […]

DOJ Community Engagement Unit Hosts Back to School Fair A Dover man targeted in a drug investigation after selling heroin to an undercover police officer was sentenced to prison. Deputy Attorney General Gregory Babowal secured the sentence for 26-year-old Javon Young. In January 2019, members of the State Police Kent County Drug Unit and Kent […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings today announced that she is joining a lawsuit opposing the Trump Administration’s new rule circumventing the Flores Settlement Agreement, which has governed the treatment of children in immigration custody since 1997. In the complaint before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the coalition argues that the rule eliminates several critical protections […]

Additional victims encouraged to contact Consumer Protection Unit The Delaware Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Unit today announced three indictments, including separate criminal charges against two brothers, in a series of home improvement frauds targeting older Delawareans. Isaac K. Lovell, 44, of Bear was indicted on July 8, 2019 on charges including Racketeering, Conspiracy to […]

Other defendants sentenced on kidnapping, manslaughter, assault, and weapons charges Malcolm Casson, a Dover man who stabbed another man to death on the grounds of a state museum, has pleaded guilty to a 2018 murder. In February 2018, State Police were called to the John Dickinson House off of Kitts Hummock Road in Dover after […]

Witness intimidation sends man to prison A 30-year-old Seaford man who tried to flee from a traffic stop with a state trooper holding on to his moving vehicle pleaded guilty in Superior Court. Deputy Attorney General John Donahue secured the plea to Assault Second Degree, Reckless Endangering, and Resisting Arrest from Brandon Showell. In June […]

Complaint accuses family behind Purdue Pharma of consumer fraud, negligence, and nuisance  Attorney General Kathy Jennings Monday sued seven members of the Sackler family for their role in creating and sustaining the opioid crisis in Delaware. The individuals named in the Delaware Superior Court complaint controlled and directed opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma’s two-decade course of falsely and deceptively marketing opioids, sowing the seeds […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings released the following statement regarding reports of “at-home” sexual assault kits being marketed to universities and sexual assault survivors: Our office has been made aware of a new company selling sexual assault evidence kits for “at-home” use, seemingly targeted at college students. I empathize with survivors’ vulnerability and desire for privacy, […]

Delaware, along with other states, is issuing the following additional statement on a settlement offer by Purdue Pharma: A majority of states rejected the settlement proposed by Purdue and the Sacklers. We have heard the voices of families across the country calling for justice.  Purdue’s proposal does not provide anything close to the $10-12 billion […]

Other defendants plea to drug, weapons, and robbery charges A Superior Court judge sentenced three inmates Friday for their roles in the 2017 Vaughn prison riot, which resulted in the murder of correctional officer Lt. Steven Floyd. Dwayne Staats, 37, sentenced to two life sentences in prison plus 153 years for his conviction on 2 […]

Fraudulent companies include shells owned by Manafort, Gates, and Cohen; others used to undermine democratic processes and launder drug money Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Thursday that the she has filed actions in the state Court of Chancery to dissolve 15 Delaware business entities for involvement in criminal activities. State law allows the Attorney General […]

Sexual assault kit testing initiative generates rape conviction; Child sexual abuse, armed robbery also lead to guilty pleas An employee of the state Division of Motor Vehicles and a man who bribed her have pleaded guilty to issuing drivers’ licenses to people who hadn’t earned them. Danielle Haldeman, 29, of Greenwood, who worked at the […]

Other defendants face prison for murder, assault, drug, and weapons charges The repeated sexual abuse of 2 children has led to a prison sentence of more than 100 years for a New Castle man. For a period of almost 3 years beginning in January 2014, Melvin Finney, 57, sexually assaulted 2 children in his care. […]

Attorney General Kathy Jennings today released the following statement after a jury returned a guilty verdict against Clay Conaway for Rape 4th Degree: “The message today is no means no. I am grateful for the jury’s decision, for the work of our excellent trial team, for the investigative work of the Delaware State Police, and […]

The Delaware Department of Justice’s Office of Civil Rights & Public Trust announced Monday that a grand jury has indicted former Wilmington City Council President Theopalis K. Gregory on charges of Profiteering and Official Misconduct. The DOJ alleges that Gregory, 67, used his position on City Council to secure a City grant that would enrich […]

A Superior Court jury convicted a New Castle man who shot and killed one of his co-workers. Deputy Attorneys General Matthew Frawley and John Taylor secured a guilty verdict for 36-year-old Bobby Taylor. In November 2015, Taylor shot and killed Aloysisus Taylor, 41, of Wilmington, at the American Car Wash in the 1900 block of […]

25-state coalition files briefs in Bankruptcy Court Attorney General Kathy Jennings, along with a bipartisan group of 24 attorneys general, filed today two briefs opposing a request by Purdue Pharma to stop all lawsuits against the company and the Sackler family. “The Sacklers extracted up to $13 billion from Purdue while drugs like OxyContin wreaked […]

Other defendants face prison time for murder, weapons, and drug charges Ahmir Bailey, 20, of Lincoln, will spend the rest of his life in prison after being convicted by a Superior Court jury of murdering a 20-year-old Smyrna man. In May 2018, Bailey and a co-defendant, Eugene Riley, 19, of Milford, got into an argument […]

Other defendants convicted on murder, manslaughter, weapons, and drug charges Three men at the helm of a massive drug dealing enterprise were sentenced to prison in Superior Court. Dwayne White, 36, of Wilmington, Eric Lloyd, 40, of New Castle, and Damon Anderson, 40, were convicted of numerous charges in June for their roles in the […]

Multi-state settlement resolves allegations of improper marketing and sale of addictive withdrawal treatment Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced today that Delaware and other states have reached an agreement with pharmaceutical distributor Reckitt Benckiser Group (“Reckitt”) to settle allegations that the company, either directly or through a subsidiary, improperly marketed and otherwise promoted the drug Suboxone, […]

Others face prison on assault and resisting arrest charges Steven Snell, the Millsboro man who kidnapped and robbed an elderly Rehoboth Beach couple has been sentenced to prison. In July 2018, Snell, 30, went to a home on Cornwall Road asking to use the phone. Once inside, Snell threatened the couple with a box cutter, […]

Prison time for other defendants on murder, weapons, racketeering, drug, and sexual abuse charges The operator of a criminal enterprise run out of several massage parlors he owned throughout the state, was found liable of 3 violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (R.I.C.O.) statute. The State alleged that Da Zhong Wang, 55, formerly […]

This settlement resolves allegations that Newark Manor provided substandard and worthless care to residents of the nursing facility. Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced today that the State of Delaware has reached an agreement with Newark Manor Nursing Home (also known as Premiere Healthcare, Inc.), its owner Bruce Boyer, administrator David Boyer and former administrator Susan […]

Other defendants receive prison sentences for fatal shootings Kili Mayfield, a man convicted of raping 3 women over the course of 7 years will spend the rest of his life in prison. Mayfield, 40, of Bear, was arrested in June 2018 after being linked to the raping, beating, and strangling of a woman and 2 […]

A Maryland woman who caused a fatal crash while driving under the influence of drugs has been sentenced to prison. Deputy Attorneys General Barzilai Axelrod and William Leonard secured the sentence for Michelle Park, 35, of Earlville. In March 2018, with her 2-year-old child in the car, Park failed to negotiate a curve while driving […]

The Delaware Department of Justice’s Office of Civil Rights & Public Trust announced Tuesday that a grand jury has indicted Dewey Beach police officer Gregory Lynch, Jr. in connection to an August 10 incident near Bellevue Road. The DOJ alleges that police and EMTs were dispatched on August 10 to assist a victim who had […]

Other defendants face prison time on manslaughter, drug, weapons, robbery, and burglary charges Syiee Parker, a Wilmington man who left his 10-month-old child in a car one day last summer has pleaded guilty to causing her death. In July 2019, Parker, 37, dropped his wife off at work, and took 6 other children to summer […]

Delaware leads bipartisan coalition opposing attempt to weaponize class action settlements against state law enforcement actions Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Monday that Delaware has filed an amicus brief in a Minnesota federal court opposing a corporation’s attempt to weaponize a class action settlement against a parallel law enforcement action by the Minnesota Attorney General. […]

Wilmington man sentenced for 2017 killing in city A Bridgeville man who turned himself into police three days after fatally shooting another man in 2018 will spend the rest of his life in prison. A Sussex County Superior Court jury convicted Mcarthur Risper, Jr. of Murder First Degree, Conspiracy First Degree, and Possesion of a […]

Guilty plea to murder in Dover killing; Change in state’s securities act leads to guilty plea to theft and identity theft Beatriz Fana-Ruiz, the woman who set fire to the home where she lived leading to the deaths of 3 Wilmington firefighters has been sentenced to 30 years in prison. Deputy Attorneys General Barzilai Axelrod […]

Wilmington shooting leads to prison time A 35-year-old Dover man has been convicted for sexually assaulting and beating his girlfriend. A Superior Court jury found Isaac Pierce guilty of Rape First Degree, Kidnapping First Degree, Strangulation, Assault Third Degree, and Terroristic Threatening. In September 2018, while arguing with the victim, Pierce beat, strangled, and raped […]

Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Anderson secured a guilty plea and prison sentence for a man wanted for a shooting in Seaford, arrested while police were investigating illegal drug activity in Bridgeville. Teron West, 33, of Seaford, was arrested in July 2019, when members of the Delaware State Police Sussex County Governor’s Task Force executed a […]

A Superior Court judge sentenced Friday a Chester, PA man to 20 years in prison for 2 counts of rape, concluding a years-long effort to solve multiple cold cases. Hayim Raison was arrested after DNA tests on previously untested sexual assault kits helped lead to his arrest and guilty plea for 2 counts of Rape […]

A Sussex County Judge has found a Millsboro man guilty of murder. On November 17, 2016, a passerby discovered Darrin Gibbs of Millsboro lying face down on Monroe Street with a gunshot wound to the back of his head. Witness testimony, ballistics evidence, and video surveillance ultimately identified one of Gibbs’ associates, A.J. McMullen, as […]

A Superior Court jury has convicted a Wilmington man for his central role in a June 2016 murder. Witness testimony, cell phone evidence, and collaboration with an FBI task force demonstrated that Brian Wilson, also known as Fudayl Wakim, arranged the murder of Allen Cannon through a $10,000 bounty and a conspiracy with co-defendant Eric […]

Two members of the Shoot To Kill (STK) gang, who were responsible for multiple armed robberies and three separate shootings—including the broad daylight murder of 15-year-old Brandon Wingo—have been sentenced by a Superior Court Judge. Diamonte Taylor, 22, of Wilmington, was sentenced life in prison plus 11 years after a Superior Court jury convicted him […]