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Export Delaware Announces the Compass Grant to Help Delaware Businesses Increase their Sales Globally

Delaware small businesses who are seeking support in selling around the world may now apply for a Compass Grant from Export Delaware. The Compass Grant helps Delaware small businesses navigate international business development through grant funding to support marketing and sales activities around the world. Grant funds can be used to reimburse Delaware businesses for […]




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Secretary of State Announces Massage Technician License Suspension

Secretary of State Jeffrey Bullock has suspended the Delaware certified massage technician license of Robert D. Leech for engaging in inappropriate sexual contact with massage clients. In making this determination, Secretary Bullock considered a complaint filed by the Delaware Department of Justice. The complaint states that Mr. Leech used his position to impose unwelcome sexual […]



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Delaware 250: Grants for Museums, Heritage Groups, and Non-Profits

Delaware 250 Grants for Museums, Heritage Groups, and Non-Profits Notice of Funding Opportunity   About Delaware 250 The year 2026 will see the United States Semiquincentennial, the commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America’s (and Delaware’s) independence. This anniversary provides an opportunity to reflect on Delaware’s unique history and its contributions over the course of […]





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Maiss Hussein to Represent Delaware in 2024 Poetry Out Loud National Finals

Hussein named Delaware’s finalist for second consecutive year   Wilmington, Del. (March 7, 2024) – Following a spirited competition featuring eleven talented high school students from Delaware, Maiss Hussein, a senior from Paul M. Hodgson Vocational Technical High School, emerged as the 2024 Poetry Out Loud Delaware State Champion. The exhilarating state finals took place […]




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Delaware Division of the Arts and The Biggs Museum of American Art Open Award Winners XXIV Exhibition

Twenty Delaware artists receive significant award from the Delaware Division of the Arts   Dover, Del. (April 22, 2024) – The Biggs Museum of American Art has opened the exhibition, Award Winners XXIV, marking the 24th consecutive year of hosting this exhibition in partnership with the Delaware Division of the Arts. Showcasing the exceptional work […]




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DSB Partners with SBDC to Support Small Business Loan Program

DSB has given the SBDC $675,423 in funding to provide Technical Assistance to small business owners for the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI). SSBCI is a federal program aimed at supporting both small and early-stage businesses who are having challenges obtaining a traditional bank loan, as well as those that are owned by socially and economically disadvantaged persons.




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DSB Highlights Activities for National Small Business Week/Month 2024

There are nearly 28-thousand small businesses in the State of Delaware. Each year, the month of May is set aside as a special time to celebrate small businesses, their courage, community efforts, and hard work. The Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) is highlighting activities that do this taking place during National Small Business Month, and National Small Business Week (NSBW April 28 – May 4, 2024).




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Ex-daycare worker indicted for Murder, 52 counts of Child Abuse following infant homicide investigation

A New Castle County grand jury has indicted a New Castle woman for 53 felonies following the alleged murder of an infant and the abuse of four other children at a Bear daycare facility. Dejoynay Ferguson, 20, is alleged to have suffocated a 4-month-old child to death and to have abused that child and four other children between July […]



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Attorney General Jennings Fights Trump Administration’s Attempts to Reduce Census Efforts

Suit comes at a time when Delaware response rates are lagging. Attorney General Kathy Jennings has joined a large coalition of attorneys general, cities, counties, and the bipartisan U.S. Conference of Mayors in taking legal action against the Trump Administration’s impairment of the 2020 Decennial Census. The coalition filed an amicus brief in National Urban League v. […]



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AG Jennings, 21 other AGs successful in Census ruling

Court blocks Trump effort to exclude undocumented immigrants from congressional representation  In a victory for the 2020 Census, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York ruled late Thursday that undocumented immigrants must be included in congressional apportionment following the census count. Delaware was one of the suit’s plaintiffs. “The Constitution is […]



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Former Fenwick Island Police Chief Pleads Guilty To Official Misconduct, Falsifying Business Records

The former Chief of the Fenwick Island Police Department has pleaded guilty to Official Misconduct and Falsifying Business Records. Boyden was indicted in August after knowingly submitting, between February of 2014 and March of 2020, false reports to the Delaware Council on Police Training indicating that he had been certified in firearms.  Boyden was charged with, and pleaded guilty to, one count of […]



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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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Pair of Courts Side With DOJ On USPS, Vote-By-Mail

Two Courts ordered Monday that Delaware’s temporary vote-by-mail law is valid and enjoined the USPS from continuing to implement operational changes that have led to nationwide service disruptions. “I’m grateful to the judges in these cases who ruled for the people and for the rule of law,” said Attorney General Jennings. “It’s unfortunate that we […]



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Investor Protection Unit Joins CFTC to Stop Nationwide Precious Metals IRA, Bullion Coin Scheme

Attorney General Jennings announced Tuesday that the Delaware Department of Justice’s Investor Protection Unit is participating in a consolidated nationwide enforcement action to disrupt a fraudulent precious metals scheme that has solicited more than $180 million from seniors and other investors. The Delaware Department of Justice, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and 29 other […]



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Antes de las elecciones, la Fiscal General Jennings les recuerda a los votantes de sus derechos y responsabilidades.

El Departamento de Justicia de Delaware describe la coordinación de la protección electoral Con las elecciones generales de Delaware a una semana de distancia, la fiscal general Kathy Jennings le recuerda al público que el Departamento de Justicia de Delaware, las fuerzas del orden público estatales y locales y el Departamento de Elecciones harán cumplir […]



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Second Suspect Charged For Murder Of Madison Sparrow

Prosecutors, State Police secure three felony charges against 17-year-old woman After an extensive investigation by the Delaware State Police and the Department of Justice, a New Castle County grand jury indicted two Newark individuals for the October murder of 17-year-old Madison Sparrow.  The indictment charges Noah Sharp and Annika Stalczynski with Murder First Degree, Possession […]



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Following federal indictment, DOJ reminds public of sexual abuse hotline

In light of a federal child pornography indictment filed in Pennsylvania against former Salesianum School principal William McCandless, the Delaware Department of Justice is reminding the public of a dedicated DOJ hotline and e-mail address for potential victims of abuse to contact . The Department is closely monitoring this matter and asks any potential victims […]



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AG Jennings Announces Antitrust Suit Against Facebook  

Citing a pattern of predatory acquisitions, a “buy or bury” strategy deployed against third-party developers, and the erosion of users’ privacy protections, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Wednesday that Delaware and other states are suing Facebook. The suit charges Facebook Inc. with violating the Sherman Antitrust Act and the Clayton Antitrust Act and seeks to end […]



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Delaware Justice System Warns Of Phone Scam Targeting Probationers

The Delaware Judiciary, Delaware Department of Justice, Department of Correction and Delaware State Police are warning the public of a phone scam that is apparently targeting probationers. The Delaware State Police have received information about fraudulent callers threatening individuals on probation with re-arrest for allegedly committing new crimes. In at least one case, the caller […]



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AG Jennings’ op-ed: A house divided

  “We must settle this question now, whether in a free government the minority have the right to break up the government whenever they choose. If we fail it will go far to prove the incapability of the people to govern themselves.” – Abraham Lincoln, 1861 When he was sworn in, Abraham Lincoln faced the […]



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Lawmakers, DOJ Announce Legislation To Stop Unfair Business Practices

Legislation introduced in the Delaware House of Representatives Thursday would encourage competition, and protect consumers and business alike, by empowering the Attorney General to intervene against unfair business practices. Deceptive business practices have been illegal under Delaware’s Consumer Fraud Act, passed in 1965. However, Delaware is one of only six states that do not also […]



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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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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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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 […]



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Unfair Business Practices Bill Passes Senate, Ready for Governor’s Signature 

Legislation passed by the State Senate on Tuesday is one step away from ensuring Delawareans are protected from unfair business practices by a statute as protective as the law in nearly every other state. House Bill 91, sponsored by Rep. David Bentz, D-Newark, and Sen. Trey Paradee, D-Dover, amends Delaware’s Consumer Fraud Act to explicitly add unfair practices to the list of prohibited practices. […]



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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 […]



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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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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 […]



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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, […]



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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 […]



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Grand Jury indicts State Auditor for Abuse of Office

Lengthy DCRPT investigation yields five charges, including felonies Charges include orchestrating State contract with political consultant Indictment alleges McGuiness hired teenage daughter, paid her while enrolled in college   Following an investigation involving dozens of witness interviews, thousands of document reviews, and more than a year of work, Attorney General Kathy Jennings and the DOJ’s […]



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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, 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 […]



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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 […]



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DOJ Seeks Public’s Assistance in Sussex County Sexual Abuse Case

Prosecutors seek additional victims of Ellendale pastor The Delaware Department of Justice is seeking the public’s assistance in the prosecution of a Sussex County pastor indicted for Unlawful Sexual Contact, and is requesting that any additional victims contact law enforcement. Major Foster, a Lincoln man who at the time was employed as pastor of Ellendale’s […]



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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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William Ushler indicted for Child Pornography, Sexual Solicitation of a Child

Ex-Tower Hill employee faces seven felonies; no Delaware children or THS students among known victims A Wilmington man and former Tower Hill School employee arrested in April has been indicted on charges arising from a child pornography investigation. William Ushler, 53, was arrested and charged on April 19 by members of the Department of Justice […]



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Jennings, DSP Announce Trooper Plea In Computer System Misuse Case

A Delaware State Trooper has pleaded guilty to Misuse of Computer System Information, Attorney General Kathy Jennings and Col. Melissa Zebley announced Friday.  The case was prosecuted by the Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust after Delaware State Police supervisors discovered and reported Boyda’s conduct. James D. Boyda, a five-year veteran of […]



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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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AG Jennings, DOJ’s Fraud Division Secure Revocations Against Cartel And Trafficking-Linked Business Entities

Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Friday that the DOJ’s Fraud Division has secured revocations of the corporate charters or certificates of formation of multiple Delaware-registered business entities connected to criminal entities, including a Venezuelan cartel and a federally sanctioned online pharmacy based in Argentina. “Delaware’s central role in the business community is both a privilege and a responsibility,” said […]



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Suspect Indicted For 2015 Murder That Sparked Years-Long Wilmington Gang War

Attorney General Kathy Jennings and Wilmington Chief of Police Wilfredo Campos announced today that a Wilmington man, Oliver “Butter” Henry, has been arrested and charged for the January 2015 murder of 16-year-old Jordan Ellerbe. Ellerbe’s murder ignited a rapidly accelerating feud between two rival gangs, Shoot to Kill and Only My Brothers. In the months […]



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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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DCRPT Secures Thousands For Tenants In Fair Housing Cases

The Delaware Department of Justice’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust secured fair housing settlements in two cases that awarded $50,000 collectively for two victims, among other stipulations.  “Housing and reasonable accommodation are basic human rights,” said Attorney General Kathy Jennings. “— and that should be especially true in a place that prides itself on being a […]



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Former Seaford High School Employee Indicted For Child Sexual Abuse 

DOJ, DSP seeking additional victims   A former Seaford High School employee faces six felony child sexual abuse charges under an indictment returned by a Sussex County jury, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced Tuesday. Jerry Sodano, 52, of Bridgeville was charged Monday following an investigation into allegations of an illegal sexual relationship with a student at […]



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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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DSP, DOJ Announce Domestic Violence Charges Against Suspended Trooper

A suspended Delaware State Trooper has been arrested and charged for a domestic physical assault, Attorney General Kathy Jennings and Col. Melissa Zebley announced Friday. On March 14, officers from Delaware State Police Troop 9 responded to a residence in Townsend regarding a domestic violence incident involving the defendant, Trooper Anthony DiGati. Police learned that DiGati and the victim had […]



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AG Jennings, DSP Colonel Zebley Announce Felony Indictment Against Suspended Trooper

A Delaware State Trooper has been charged with multiple felonies, including Delaware’s first-ever use of a new Deprivation of Civil Rights statute passed by lawmakers last year, for brutally assaulting a 15-year-old victim and fracturing his orbital socket in response to an apparent prank.  The Trooper is suspended without pay. “As a mother and grandmother, […]



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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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AG Jennings files lawsuit against chemical companies for causing contamination of Delaware’s natural resources

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 […]



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