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Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust releases supplemental McDole report

Report addresses firearm, claims of new evidence The Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust (DCRPT) released Tuesday a supplemental report regarding the September 23, 2015 police shooting of Jeremy McDole. After the DOJ was presented in June with claims of new evidence and concerns about the validity of firearms evidence cited […]



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Ahead of Election Day, Attorney General Jennings reminds voters of rights and responsibilities

Delaware DOJ outlines coordination on Election Protection With Delaware’s general election one week away, Attorney General Kathy Jennings is reminding the public that the Delaware Department of Justice, state and local law enforcement, and the Department of Elections will strictly enforce Delaware’s voter intimidation laws in order to ensure that Delawareans are able to vote […]



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Lincoln man to serve life in prison for 2018 homicide

A Lincoln man has been sentenced for the 2018 murder of a 20-year-old. Ahmir Bailey, 22, was convicted in October 2019 of five felonies, including First Degree Murder, and two misdemeanors after an investigation linked him and a codefendant to the shooting death of Jameir Vann-Robinson, of Smyrna. In May 2018, Bailey and a co-defendant, […]



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AG Jennings Warns Investors of Risks of Market Volatility, Reminds Regulated Firms of Customer Obligations

The Delaware Department of Justice Investor Protection Unit is closely monitoring the extreme price volatility of certain stocks and cautioned investors about the risks associated with investing in publicly traded companies that are experiencing volatility. “It can be risky investing in stocks with extreme changes in price over a short period of time. Investors should […]



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AG Jennings releases legislative priorities for 2021

Attorney General Kathy Jennings released Tuesday a legislative agenda outlining ten policy priorities that she will advocate to the 151st General Assembly in 2021. “I know what we’re capable of in 2021, because I know what we accomplished together in the last two years,” said Attorney General Jennings. “We’ve made real progress, from historic criminal […]



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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, […]



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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 […]



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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 […]



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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 […]



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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 […]



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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 […]



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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 […]



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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 […]



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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 […]



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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 […]



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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.”



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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 […]



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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, […]



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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 […]



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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 […]



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AG Jennings announces $34.2 million national settlement with Harris Jewelry 

Jewelry chain defrauded thousands of servicemembers and veterans Attorney General Kathy Jennings, through the Fraud Division’s Consumer Protection Unit and in connection with 17 other states and the FTC, has secured a recovery of $34.2 million for more than 46,000 servicemembers and veterans nationwide who were deceived and defrauded by jewelry retailer Harris Jewelry. Harris […]



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DOJ Secures 646 Charges Against Husband, Wife for Serial Child Abuse and Torture

A Kent County couple has been indicted on 646 charges, including more than 80 felonies, for abusing their two children. Over a period of 20 months, Mary Vinson, 45, and Charles Vinson, 36, are alleged to have abused their children, including making them stand for long periods of time; withholding food; force feeding them; and […]



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Attorney General Jennings Announces Settlement With Experian-Owned Company Over Sensitive Information Breach

Attorney General Jennings today announced a multistate settlement with Experian Data Corp (“EDC”) for failing to warn affected consumers after it learned that an identity thief was posing as a private investigator and retrieving sensitive personal information from Court Ventures Inc., a database that EDC had purchased. In 2012, the U.S. Secret Service notified EDC […]




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Delaware Joins Combined $15 Million Multistate Settlements Over 2015 Experian Data Breach

Attorney General Kathleen Jennings announced today that Delaware, along with 39 states, has obtained two multistate settlements with Experian Information Solutions, Inc. (“Experian”) and T-Mobile USA, Inc. (“T-Mobile”) concerning a 2015 data breach experienced by Experian that compromised the personal information of more than 15 million individuals who submitted credit applications with T-Mobile. Under the […]




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AG Jennings secures lengthy suspension from Wilmington financial adviser for false statements to securities regulator

Attorney General Kathy Jennings last week secured a multi-year suspension and fines from a Wilmington based financial adviser for making false and misleading statements to her office’s Investor Protection Unit, the state securities regulator for Delaware, and for providing advisory services to clients while unregistered to do so. “Protecting investors from unscrupulous financial professionals is […]



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Prosecutors Secure 40 Convictions In NorthPak Gang Trial

The Department of Justice has secured 40 convictions, including multiple murder and attempted murder charges, against two members of the violent Wilmington-area gang NorthPak, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Wednesday. “Thanks to an outstanding trial team and tireless investigators, led by the Wilmington Police Department, justice was delivered today,” said Attorney General Jennings. “These verdicts, […]



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AG Jennings: Full Protections for Mifepristone Access Remain Intact in Delaware

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 […]



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Statement from AG Jennings on SCOTUS’ Mifepristone Stay

The legal debacle over mifepristone underscores how easily a small group of extremist plaintiffs can abuse the judicial system to force draconian, unscientific, and undemocratic laws on the nation. These questions should not even be up for debate: mifepristone has a safer track record than Viagra. But we live in an era where women once […]



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U.S. Supreme Court Denies Fossil Fuel Companies’ Petition for Hearing

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 […]



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DOJ Secures Lengthy Prison Sentence for Dover Man in 2022 Violent Gun Case

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, […]



  • Department of Justice Press Releases

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Millsboro PD Officer Indicted For Drug Tampering 

Defendant faces multiple felonies after stealing drug evidence  The Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust has indicted a Millsboro police sergeant and evidence custodian after an investigation revealed that he tampered with and used drugs stored in the Department’s evidence locker.   Matthew Dufour, 34, faces ten charges—including multiple felonies such […]



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DOJ Secures 35-Count Indictment Against Group Responsible For Violent Crime Spree

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, […]



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Jennings Grills Cabela’s Over Half-Million Rounds of Stolen Ammo

Gun dealer under investigation for lax prevention of shoplifted ammo Attorney General Kathy Jennings, through her Office of Impact Litigation, has asked the Superior Court to enforce a subpoena against Cabela’s, Inc. (“Cabela’s”) seeking answers about a half-million rounds of ammunition that were shoplifted from its Christiana location.  After more than three months, Cabela’s has […]



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DOJ Secures Decade In Prison For Delaware Man In Fatal Shooting

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 […]



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DOJ Secures Life Sentence For Serial Stalker

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 […]



  • Department of Justice Press Releases

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Delaware joins $10 million settlement with ACI Worldwide over attempted unauthorized withdrawals

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 […]



  • Department of Justice Press Releases
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Prosecutors Secure Convictions Against Serial Child Abusers

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 […]



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Delaware Medicaid to receive $7.6 million for alleged false claims caused by Christiana Care Health System

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 […]



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Gun offenders guilty on all counts in Attempted Murder trial

Two men have been found guilty of all charges relating to a January 2022 violent crime spree, marking the final conviction in a massive four-defendant indictment. Walike Parham, 24, and Kyair Keys, 20, could face life in prison for their roles in an eight-day violent crime spree involving four shootings, including one that shattered the […]



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Attorney General Jennings Announces $150 Million Settlement with Hikma Pharmaceuticals to Help Combat Opioid Crisis

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced today a $150 million multistate settlement in principle with opioid manufacturer Hikma Pharmaceuticals (Hikma) for its role in fueling the opioid crisis. Hikma produces a range of generic opioid products and sells hundreds of millions of opioid doses every year. The attorneys general allege that from 2006 to 2021, Hikma […]




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AG Jennings, law enforcement leaders announce record low violent crime rates

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 […]



  • Department of Justice Press Releases

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DOJ secures guilty pleas, prison time in fatal shooting case

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 […]



  • Department of Justice Press Releases

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AG Jennings Announces Appeal Of Superior Court Voting Ruling, Vows Support For Constitutional Amendment

The Department of Justice will move to appeal a Superior Court judge’s ruling curtailing voting rights, and will support legislative efforts to pass constitutional amendments expanding and enshrining voting rights.



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Mary and Charles Vinson sentenced to over 150 years in serial child abuse case

A Kent County couple will effectively spend their lives in prison for the serial abuse and torture of their children, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced today. “These children went through hell,” said Attorney General Jennings. “Now they never have to worry about their abusers again. Even when these cases are strong, they are not easy. […]



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Suspended Trooper faces prison after pleading guilty to six charges, including two felonies

Prosecutors have secured multiple felony convictions, including Delaware’s first-ever conviction for Deprivation of Civil Rights, against a Delaware State Trooper for the assault of two juvenile victims, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Friday. Dempsey Walters, 30, was indicted in September 2023 for assaulting two victims — a 17-year-old and a 15-year-old, whose orbital socket was […]



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Attorney General Kathy Jennings supports new rules targeting money laundering

Attorney General Kathy Jennings has joined a coalition of 25 states and territories in filing a letter with the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in support of proposed rules entitled “Anti-Money Laundering Regulations for Residential Real Estate Transactions.”     The April 16 letter expresses staunch support for the would-be regulations, which will […]



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Governor Markell Proposes New Program to Boost Manufacturing Workforce

Proposing an opportunity to grow a vital part of our economy while giving more young people the best chance to reach their potential, Governor Markell outlined an Accelerated Career Paths program that would allow high school juniors and seniors to obtain professional manufacturing certificates when they graduate.




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Governor Markell Announces Nomination of Patrice Gilliam-Johnson, Ph.D. to Serve as Secretary of Labor

Governor Markell announced the nomination of respected educator and human resources expert Patrice Gilliam-Johnson, Ph.D. to serve as Delaware’s next Secretary of Labor.




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Gov. Markell, Department of Labor, honor businesses for hiring people with disabilities

Dover, DE — Gov. Jack Markell joined the Delaware Department of Labor’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) at Dover Downs to celebrate workplace inclusion by honoring the value and contribution of employees with disabilities and employers who hire them. “Each year we are proud to honor businesses in our State […]



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Governor Carney Accepts Strategic Plan from Delaware Pathways Steering Committee

Plan would improve Delaware’s efforts to connect educators and employers, and expand work-based learning WILMINGTON, Del. – The Delaware Pathways Steering Committee presented its Strategic Plan to Governor John Carney on Wednesday – including priorities designed to more effectively connect Delaware educators and employers, create additional work-based learning opportunities for Delaware middle and high school […]