The Federal Trade Commission is sending nearly $7 million in refunds to consumers who paid for health insurance but instead got medical discount plans pitched by Consumer Health Benefits Association (CHBA).
According to the FTC’s complaint against CHBA, related entities, and their owners, the company targeted consumers who searched online for information about affordable health insurance plans. CHBA telemarketers allegedly pitched consumers with a long list of false claims about the benefits of the discount plans, including that the plans were as widely accepted and would provide the same cost savings as legitimate health insurance companies, and also misled consumers about the company’s refund policies.
The FTC is sending payments to 47,166 consumers. Recipients should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. Consumers who have questions about their payment should contact the refund administrator, Epiq, at 888-350-1458, or visit the FTC website to view frequently asked questions about the refund process. The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.
The Commission’s interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of refunds in FTC cases. In 2022, Commission actions led to more than $392 million in refunds to consumers across the country.
Now in its fifteenth year of publication, the data book also provides the most recent fiscal year information available on robocall complaints, the types of calls consumers reported to the FTC, and a complete state-by-state analysis. According to the data book, complaints about imposter calls again topped the list, with more than 175,000 received during the fiscal year ending on September 30, 2023, 117,000 of which were robocalls. In such calls, imposters falsely pose as representatives of government, such as the Social Security Administration or the IRS, legitimate business entities or as people affiliated with them.
FY 2023 Registration and Complaint Data
The FTC’s National Do Not Call (DNC) Registry lets consumers add their phone number and choose not to receive most legal telemarketing calls. In the last fiscal year, more than 2.6 million people signed up with the DNC Registry, bringing the total to more than 249 million actively registered phone numbers, up from 246.8 million at the end of FY 2022.
The overall number of complaints continued its decline in FY 2023, down more than 900,000 from FY 2022. The number of consumer complaints decreased for most topics, including warranties and protection plans, the second largest topic the past several years, which saw a decrease of more than 84 percent from FY 2022.
In FY 2023, the Commission received 1.2 million complaints about robocalls, down from 1.8 million in FY 2022. This is the second year in a row the number of robocalls reported has decreased. For every month in the fiscal year, robocalls—defined under FTC regulations as calls delivering a prerecorded message—made up the majority of consumer complaints about DNC violations.
Calls about medical and prescription issues comprised the second-most commonly reported topic, with consumers filing more than 142,000 complaints. Complaints about supposed debt-reduction made up the third-most commonly reported topic, followed by complaints about energy, solar, and utilities and warranties and protection plans.
Registration and Complaint Data by State
The FTC also provides a state-by-state breakdown of its data. New Hampshire continues to top the nation in active DNC registrations per capita. The top five states reporting the most DNC complaints per 100,000 people in FY 2023 were Delaware, Ohio, Virginia, Nevada and Illinois.
Operation Stop Scam Calls
In July 2023, the FTC and more than 100 federal and state law enforcement partners nationwide, including the attorneys general from all 50 states and the District of Columbia, announced “Operation Stop Scam Calls,” the largest crackdown on illegal telemarketing calls in U.S. history.
The initiative involved more than 180 actions targeting operations responsible for billions of calls to U.S. consumers, and it not only targeted telemarketers and the companies that hire them, but also lead generators who deceptively collect and provide consumers’ telephone numbers to robocallers and others, falsely representing that these consumers have consented to receive calls. The effort also targeted Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service providers who facilitate illegal robocalls every year, which often originate overseas.
Underlying Data Availability
The underlying data in the report is publicly available on the FTC’s website.
Date/Time: Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at 5:08 p.m.
Location: South New Street and West Reed Street
Contact: Dover Police Department Public Information Officer Master Corporal Ryan Schmid Email: [email protected]
Narrative: The Dover Police Department has arrested Tyrese Bailey, 22, of Dover, on drug and firearm charges following a stop Wednesday evening. On Wednesday at approximately 5:08 p.m., the Dover Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit was conducting a firearms investigation on Bailey when he was contacted in the area of South New Street and West Reed Street. Bailey was taken into custody without incident and officers located a .22 Caliber Rifle concealed inside of his jacket. Officers continued their search of Bailey and located 54.1 grams of marijuana, 154 bags of heroin and 1.3 grams of crack cocaine. Bailey was transported to Dover Police Department where he was processed and arraigned.
Bailey was committed to SCI on $152,200 cash bail on the following charges: -Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony -Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition By a Person Prohibited (3x) -Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (2x) -Possession of a Firearm with an Obliterated Serial Number -Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon -Possession of a Controlled Substance In a Tier 1 Quantity -Possession of a Controlled Substance
The Dover Police Department has arrested Khalil Smith, 19, of Dover, for his involvement in the Spruance Road shooting that left a 17-year-old male injured in May of 2023. (See original release below) Through the investigation into this incident, the Criminal Investigations Unit, in collaboration with the Drugs, Vice and Organized Crime Unit, identified Smith as a suspect. On October 30th, 2023 Detectives obtained warrants for Smith who was currently being held at SCI on unrelated charges.
Smith was arraigned at SCI where he was held on $75,500 cash bail on the following charges:
-Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony -Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (2x) -Reckless Endangering First Degree (2x) -Assault Second Degree -Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony -Conspiracy Second Degree -Criminal Mischief
Khalil Smith Dover, DE
**Original Release**
Incident Number:50-23-14368
Date/Time: Tuesday, May 9, 2023 at 2:33 a.m.
Location: 100 Block of Spruance Road, Dover, DE
Contact: Dover Police Department Public Information Officer Master Corporal Ryan Schmid Email: [email protected]
Narrative: The Dover Police Department is investigating the shooting of a 17-year-old white male of Dover that occurred early Tuesday morning. The investigation began when Dover Police responded to the 100 block of Spruance Road for a shooting. Officers responded, and upon arrival located the 17-year-old victim, who had been shot in his upper body. Officers immediately rendered aid and the victim was transported to an area hospital for treatment. The ensuing investigation revealed that a vehicle was also struck by gunfire during this incident. No other injuries were reported. There are no leads at this time.
This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302) 736-7130. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips may also be submitted to law enforcement through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333 or online at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com ; a cash reward is possible for information leading to an arrest.
If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and are in need of assistance, the Dover Police Victim Services Unit is available to provide help and guidance. You can contact the Victim Services Unit at 302-736-7134 or by email at: [email protected]
You can follow the Dover Police Department by clicking on:
The Delaware State Police arrested 20-year-old Lynox Allen of Wilmington, Delaware, for aggravated menacing and gun offenses after he caused a disturbance at a North Wilmington area restaurant on Sunday night.
On October 29, 2023, at approximately 8:26 p.m., troopers responded to the Applebee’s located at 1600 Rocky Run Parkway for reports of an armed man wearing a ski mask arguing with the restaurant’s employees. The suspect was reported to have fled in a silver sedan bearing a specific Delaware registration. A responding trooper observed the car traveling southbound on Concord Pike in the area of Prospect Avenue and conducted a felony traffic stop. The trooper made contact with the driver, identified as Lynox Allen, and the 19-year-old passenger. Both were detained without incident. After Allen was removed from the car, troopers observed a ski mask in plain view on the driver’s seat. Subsequently, troopers searched the car and located a loaded handgun under the driver’s seat, and approximately 24.95 grams of marijuana.
In the ensuing investigation, troopers learned Allen’s family members, who were dining at Applebee’s, contacted him about issues with the restaurant’s employees. Allen then responded to Applebee’s and confronted employees while armed. During the argument, Allen grabbed the handgrip of the gun that was partially concealed in his pocket.
Allen was taken to Troop 1, where he was charged with the following crimes:
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
Aggravated Menacing (Felony)
Possession of a Deadly Weapon by Person in Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony)
Carrying a Concealed Firearm (Felony)
Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
Disorderly Conduct
Allen was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $30,000 secured bond.
**UPDATE** The Dover Police Department is cancelling the Gold Alert for John Holland. He has been located.
Incident/Complaint#: 50-23-36005
Date: Wednesday, November 1st, 2023 at 4:00 p.m.
Location: 300 block South Governors Avenue, Dover, DE
Contact: Dover Police Department Public Information Officer Master Corporal Ryan Schmid Email: [email protected]
Narrative:
The Dover Police Department has issued a Gold Alert for John Holland, 59, of Dover, DE. Holland suffers from a condition that may pose a risk to his health and safety if not properly monitored and treated. Holland is described as a white male, 5’11”, 235 pounds, brown hair and blue eyes. Holland was last seen in the area 300 block of South Governors Avenue on October 31, 2023 at 1530 hours wearing a white t-shirt, jeans and bleu sneakers. Attempts to contact him have been negative.
If you have any information on Holland’s whereabouts, please call 302-736-7111.
We are thrilled to invite you to an unforgettable celestial adventure at the Delmarva Astronomical Star Party (DASP), where the night sky comes alive in all its splendor. Join us for two enchanting nights at one of the Eastern Shore’s darkest spots. Whether you’re a seasoned astronomer or just starting your journey into stargazing, this event aims to create a community to support, nurture, and share all levels of astronomical passion. It’s your chance to connect with like-minded enthusiasts and astronomers at every level. You can join for the entire three-day event or just one day and night.
Event Highlights: ✨ Starry Nights: Immerse yourself in the mesmerizing beauty of the night sky at a location known for its minimal light pollution. Witness the Milky Way, constellations, planets, and deep-sky objects.
🌌 Expert Guidance: Our experienced astronomers and host, Hunter Outten, along with our many guests, will provide insightful tips and techniques to enhance your telescope observations. Learn, share, and connect with fellow stargazers.
🔥 Nightly Campfires: Gather around the campfire to share stories, trade tips, and bond with fellow attendees. Roasting marshmallows is highly encouraged!
👨👩👧👦 Family-Friendly Activities: Bring the whole family to engage with fun and educational astronomy-themed activities making this a perfect event for stargazers of all ages. Self-guided astro-crafts like star finders will be available in the lodge. Daytime activities, including hiking trails, are available on the grounds.
🏕️ Overnight Camping: Pitch your tent or set up your trailer/camper on the grounds to fully immerse yourself in the night sky. Fall asleep under a canopy of stars and awaken to the beauty of the cosmos.
Don’t miss this opportunity to share your passion for the cosmos with kindred spirits! Mark your calendar, pack your telescope and camping gear, and prepare for a weekend of celestial wonder at the inaugural Delmarva Astronomical Star Party. We look forward to seeing you there! Clear skies and best wishes,
Hunter Outten & Kim Check
Event Organizers
*Grounds Access Code Required to enter Hazel Property. Provided upon reservation confirmation.
The Federal Trade Commission is taking action against personal finance app provider Brigit, alleging that its promises of “instant” cash advances of up to $250 for people living paycheck-to-paycheck were deceptive and that the company locked consumers into a $9.99 monthly membership they couldn’t cancel.
Brigit, also known as Bridge It, Inc., has agreed to settle the FTC’s charges, resulting in a proposed court order that would require the company to pay $18 million in consumer refunds, stop its deceptive marketing promises, and end tactics that prevented customers from cancelling.
“Brigit trapped those consumers least able to afford it into monthly membership plans they struggled to escape from,” said Sam Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Companies that offer cash advances and other alternative financial products have to play by the same rules as other businesses or face potential action by the FTC.”
According to the FTC’s complaint, Brigit advertised its cash advance service online, through social media and through broadcast ads with claims that customers who subscribed to the company’s service would have access to “instant” cash advances of up to $250 “whenever you need it,” and could cancel anytime. Consumers could only access the cash advance features when they signed up for the $9.99 per month “Plus” subscription.
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The FTC’s complaint, however, charges that consumers were rarely able to get an advance for the promised $250, and in many cases consumers were not able to receive a cash advance at all. Despite Brigit’s promises that advances would be available with “free instant transfers,” the complaint notes that the company began charging consumers a 99 cent fee for an instant transfer. Consumers who did not pay the fee had to wait up to three business days for their advances.
In addition, the complaint charges that while Brigit claimed to offer “non-recourse” advances with no fees or interest, the company prevented consumers who had an open advance from cancelling their subscription and continued to withdraw $9.99 monthly from their bank account until the advance was paid off. Such monthly charges created significant additional hardship for consumers already struggling to pay off a cash advance.
Even when consumers without an open cash advance attempted to cancel the paid subscription, the complaint charges that the company employed dark patterns—manipulative design tricks—to create a confusing and misleading cancellation process that prevented consumers from cancelling their subscriptions, instead of offering a simple mechanism to cancel, as required by the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act (ROSCA).
The proposed settlement order, which must be approved by a federal judge before it can go into effect, would require Brigit to pay $18 million to the FTC to be used to provide refunds to consumers. In addition, the order would prohibit Brigit from misleading consumers about how much money is available through their advances, how fast the money would be available, any fees associated with delivery, and consumers’ ability to cancel their service. The order would also require the company to make clear disclosures about its subscription products and provide a simple mechanism for consumers to cancel.
The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint and stipulated final order was 3-0. The FTC filed the complaint and final orderin the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. Stipulated final orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.
The staff attorneys on this matter were Patrick Roy, Mark Glassman and James Doty of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Iconic Harriet Tubman Statue Retraces Underground Railroad Trail to Next Destination
CAPE MAY, NJ – On Thursday, November 9, the famed Underground Railroad will once again come alive as the iconic “Beacon of Hope” bronze statue of Harriet Tubman is transported across the Delaware Bay aboard the Cape May – Lewes Ferry (CMLF). Since September 1, 2023, the “Beacon of Hope” has been on exhibit at the Cape May Point Science Center (CMPSC), the first stop on its freedom tour.
“We’re honored to transport the “Beacon of Hope,” said Heath Gehrke, Director of Ferry Operations. “Our ferry route is very similar to one used by escaped enslaved people who would wait for moonless nights to row across the Delaware Bay using the Lighthouse for guidance. It’s fitting and a significant historical moment for this iconic sculpture to cross the Delaware on the Cape May Lewes Ferry.”
The “Beacon of Hope”, which is 13 feet high, is traveling on a 70-foot-long flatbed trailer. The statue and its entourage will board the 10:30 a.m. departure from Cape May, New Jersey on Thursday, November 9.
“To Honor the Underground Railroad, William Still, and Harriet Tubman, the celebrated “Beacon of Hope” sculpture of Tubman was created and now will continue to follow the trail through Maryland, New Jersey, and New York,” said Bob Mullock, President of the Cape May Point Science Center. “Harriet Tubman was very active on Cape Island and William Still, the father of the Underground Railroad, once owned the historic building that today houses the Science Center. We were honored to be the sculpture’s first stop on its travel through time and appreciate the Ferry’s help in getting her to her next destination – Salisbury, Maryland.”
Chronicling the journey of one of our great American heroes, the “Beacon of Hope” has planned stops in Salisbury, Maryland; Rahway, New Jersey; the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio; City of Peekskill, New York; and John Brown Farm State Historic Site in Westport, New York.
Designed and produced by Wesley Wofford of Wofford Sculpture Studio, “The Beacon of Hope” is a monument that tells Harriet Tubman’s continuing story and amplifies her message of equality, so that all may hear it.
About the Cape May-Lewes Ferry
Owned and operated by the Delaware River and Bay Authority, the Cape May – Lewes Ferry is open year-round and has carried more than 43 million passengers since its inception on July 1, 1964. As an integral transportation system connecting the communities and economies on both sides of the Delaware Bay, the Ferry service is a significant catalyst for economic growth and regional tourism activity in New Jersey and Delaware. Its operations sustain over 4,000 jobs while generating tens of millions of dollars in local taxes and hundreds of millions in regional economic activity. For schedules and rates, please visit www.CMLF.com or call 800-643-3779.
About the Cape May Point Science Center
Located in one of the world’s most biodiverse and vital regions, The Center’s mission is to provide unique opportunities and funding to advance ecological research, education, and advocacy and encourage the protection of our piece of nature’s heaven. The Center further aims to uncover and preserve history, and the building it calls home, and the community of Cape May Point. For more information, please visit www.capemaypointsciencecenter.org or email [email protected].
Location: 300 block South Governors Avenue, Dover, DE
Contact: Dover Police Department Public Information Officer Master Corporal Ryan Schmid Email: [email protected]
Narrative:
The Dover Police Department has issued a Gold Alert for John Holland, 59, of Dover, DE. Holland suffers from a condition that may pose a risk to his health and safety if not properly monitored and treated. Holland is described as a white male, 5’11”, 235 pounds, brown hair and blue eyes. Holland was last seen in the area 300 block of South Governors Avenue on October 31, 2023 at 1530 hours wearing a white t-shirt, jeans and bleu sneakers. Attempts to contact him have been negative.
If you have any information on Holland’s whereabouts, please call 302-736-7111.
Delaware State Police arrested 66-year-old Johnny Diogo, of Greenwood, Delaware, for a 5th offense DUI and drug-related charges on Monday in Milton.
On October 30, 2023, at approximately 3:37 p.m., a trooper on patrol responded to the Valero gas station located at 25772 Deep Branch Road in Milton for a report of a man slumped over the driver’s wheel of a Ford F-150 pick-up truck. When the trooper arrived, he contacted Johnny Diogo, the driver of the F-150. The trooper woke up Diogo, who showed signs of impairment during their interaction. It was determined that Diogo was under the influence after the trooper conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. A search of Diogo and the pick-up truck led to the discovery of drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Diogo was taken into custody and transported to Troop 7, where a computer check revealed that he had four previous DUI convictions. He was charged with the following crimes:
5th offense DUI (Felony)
Possession of a Controlled Substance
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Diogo was arraigned at Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $3,200 secured bond.
The Delaware State Police have arrested 66-year-old Wayne Long of Berlin, Maryland, for multiple counts of felony sexual solicitation of a child as part of an ongoing investigation. Detectives are seeking assistance in identifying potential victims associated with the investigation occurring in the Sussex County area.
On October 19, 2023, Delaware State Police Troop 4 Youth Aid Detectives began investigating the possible sexual solicitation of a child after learning Wayne Long requested sexually explicit images from multiple underage male children through Snapchat in exchange for transportation to and from the beach in Sussex County. At this time, detectives have identified two victims who were targeted by Long on multiple occasions over the course of several months this past summer. Long is a former custodian with the Indian River School District. He supports several athletic teams, including Sussex Central High School, but has been known to attend sporting events and other events at various local school districts. Detectives have reason to believe there are additional unidentified victims who may have been targeted through Snapchat or potentially other social media platforms over the past couple of years.
On October 30, 2023, Long responded to Troop 4 after detectives contacted him by phone. He was charged with the following crimes:
Sexual Solicitation of a Child Under 18 (Felony) – 2 counts
Long was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on an $80,000 cash bond.
The Delaware State Police Troop 4 Youth Aid Unit continues to investigate this incident in conjunction with the Delaware Department of Justice. Detectives are asking anyone with information or who may be a victim to please contact Detective R. Mears by calling 302-752-3809. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
The Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal hit-and-run crash that occurred early this morning in Smyrna that left one man dead.
On October 30, 2023, at approximately 2:06 a.m., a green 2012 Ford F-150 was traveling eastbound on Wheatleys Pond Road, west of Bryn-Zion Road in Smyrna. Simultaneously, a black 2011 Lincoln Town Car was traveling westbound on Wheatleys Pond Road, approaching the Ford. It is unclear at this time as to which vehicle crossed the centerline causing the right front side of the Ford to impact with the right front side of the Lincoln on the southern part of the eastbound lane. After the impact, the Ford traveled in a southeasterly direction while rotating clockwise and rolled onto the driver’s side. The Ford came to rest in the westbound lane, still on its driver’s side, and became fully engulfed in flames. Post impact, the Lincoln was forced in a northeasterly direction while rotating counterclockwise, where it exited the roadway and struck a utility pole. The Lincoln came to rest in the roadside grass after the impact from the utility pole caused it to deflect westbound.
The driver of the Lincoln, a 71-year-old man from Henderson, Maryland, was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name is being withheld until his family and relatives are notified.
The driver of the Ford fled from the scene of the crash and is unknown at this time. The roadway was closed for approximately four hours while the scene was investigated and the roadway was cleared.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this collision to please contact Master Corporal W. Booth by calling 302-698-8451. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
The Delaware State Police are investigating a homicide that occurred in Laurel on Sunday afternoon.
On October 29, 2023, at approximately 2:47 p.m., troopers responded to a reported shooting on the 500 block of West 7th Street in the town limits of Laurel. Arriving troopers located an 18-year-old male suffering from multiple gunshot wounds on the porch of a residence. The victim was transported to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead. His name is being withheld until his family and relatives are notified. Two additional victims were located on the porch, suffering from gunshot wounds to the lower extremities. The 15-year-old male and the 13-year-old male were transported to an area hospital, where they remain admitted in stable condition. All three victims are from Laurel, Delaware.
Due to the nature of the investigation, the Laurel Police Department requested that the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit assume the investigation. A preliminary investigation revealed two unknown suspects approached the victims on foot and started shooting. After numerous rounds were fired, the suspects fled on foot in an unknown direction. The investigation has determined that this was not the result of an active shooter situation.
The Homicide Unit is still actively investigating this incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective M. Csapo by calling 302-741-2729. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
The Delaware State Police have arrested 44-year-old Lori Davenport of Clayton, Delaware, for the burglary of a Dover residence that occurred in August.
On August 21, 2023, at approximately 4:00 p.m., troopers responded to a residence located on the 1000 block of Dinahs Corner Road in Dover for a report of a burglary by the 53-year-old homeowner. During the investigation, troopers learned the homeowner returned to his home and discovered several items were missing. On August 18, 2023, a witness contacted the homeowner about a suspicious woman leaving his property in a green sedan with a weed whacker protruding from her car. Through investigative means, Troop 3 Property Crimes Detectives identified the suspect as Lori Davenport, and a warrant was issued for her arrest.
On October 26, 2023, troopers responded to the Walmart located at 36 Jerome Drive in Dover after receiving a report that Davenport was in the store shoplifting. Upon arriving, troopers located Davenport inside the Walmart, and she was taken into custody without incident.
Davenport was taken to Troop 9 and charged with the following crimes:
Burglary Second Degree (Felony)
Theft Over $1,500 (Felony)
Davenport was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and released on her own recognizance.
The Delaware State Police are investigating a homicide that occurred in the parking lot of a strip mall last night in Selbyville.
On October 28, 2023, at approximately 11:56 p.m., troopers responded to a reported shooting in the parking lot of a strip mall located at 36334 Dupont Boulevard in Selbyville. Arriving troopers observed several vehicles fleeing the scene and located numerous shell casings in the parking lot. Shortly thereafter, troopers received reports of a 21-year-old woman suffering from a gunshot wound at a nearby hospital, where she was ultimately pronounced dead. The Milford woman’s name is being withheld until her family and relatives are notified. A second victim, a 30-year-old woman from Seaford, Delaware, was also taken by a private vehicle to a nearby hospital, where she was treated and released for a gunshot wound to her upper extremity.
A preliminary investigation revealed that a Halloween party took place at a business within the strip mall. At some point during the event, a fight broke out and the party goers were asked to disperse. The fight continued in the parking lot, at which point an unknown suspect displayed a handgun and began shooting. The two victims were not involved in the altercation. The 21-year-old victim was attempting to get to her car when she was struck in the upper torso. The 30-year-old victim was seated in her car in the parking lot when it was struck by gunfire. Following the shooting, the crowd dispersed, and the unknown suspect fled the area in an unknown direction.
The Homicide Unit is still actively investigating this incident. Detectives are asking anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective A. Bluto by calling 302-741-2859. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
As a result of a Federal Trade Commission lawsuit, Jonathan Braun, who controlled small-business funding company RCG Advances, will face a permanent ban from the merchant cash advance and debt collection industries. A federal court issued summary judgment in favor of the FTC in the case along with a permanent injunctionagainst Braun.
“Mr. Braun and his company targeted small business consumers with an egregious array of tactics, from predatory contract terms to violent threats, and the court’s opinion is a significant win on their behalf,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “This case makes clear that the FTC will fight back against those who prey on small businesses.”
The FTC sued Braun in June 2020, along with four other defendants, for his role with RCG Advances, which formerly did business as Richmond Capital Group, charging that he deceived small businesses and other organizations by misrepresenting the terms of merchant cash advances the business provided, and then used unfair collection practices, including sometimes threatening physical violence, to compel consumers to pay.
The suit also alleged that Braun and the other defendants made unauthorized withdrawals from consumers’ accounts and required businesses and their owners to sign confessions of judgment as part of their contracts, which allowed the defendants to go immediately to court and obtain an uncontested judgment in case of an alleged default. The complaint alleges that the defendants unlawfully and unfairly used these confessions of judgment to seize consumers’ personal and business assets in circumstances not expected by consumers or permitted by the defendants’ financing contracts.
The court’s opinion granting summary judgment in favor of the FTC found that Braun engaged in “extensive misconduct” that violated both the FTC Act and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley (GLB) Act, and that Braun was liable for the damages caused by his and the company’s unlawful conduct.
The permanent injunction includes a number of key provisions:
Ban on merchant cash advance: Braun is permanently banned from any involvement with the merchant cash advance industry, including assisting anyone else in offering those services.
Ban on debt collection: Braun is permanently banned from the debt collection industry.
Remove negative credit information: Braun is required to contact credit reporting agencies within 30 days to remove any negative information that was filed on consumer or business credit reports as a result of his actions.
Prohibition on deceiving consumers and unauthorized charges: Braun is prohibited from deceiving consumers about any product or service, and is also prohibited from charging consumers without their authorization.
The court has scheduled a trial for January 2024 to determine the amount of monetary relief that should be imposed for Braun’s law violations.
The other defendants in the FTC’s case previously settled the FTC’s charges against them, resulting in industry bans and monetary relief totaling more than $2 million.
The Federal Trade Commission is sending nearly $100 million in refunds to consumers who lost money as a result of internet phone service provider Vonage imposing junk fees and creating obstacles to those who try to cancel their service.
According to the FTC’s November 2022 complaint, Vonage used dark patterns to make it difficult for consumers to cancel their service and often continued to illegally charge them even after they spoke to an agent directly and requested cancellation. The company agreed to a settlement with the FTC that required it to pay refunds to consumers harmed by the company’s actions, make its cancellation process simple and transparent, and stop charging consumers without their consent.
The FTC is sending payments to 389,106 consumers. Most consumers will get a check in the mail. Recipients should cash their checks within 90 days, as indicated on the check. Eligible consumers who did not have an address on file will receive a PayPal payment, which should be redeemed within 30 days. Consumers who have questions about their payment should contact the refund administrator, Epiq, at 1-877-525-4728 or visit the FTC website to view frequently asked questions about the refund process. The Commission never requires people to pay money or provide account information to get a refund.
The Commission’s interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of refunds in FTC cases. In 2022, Commission actions led to more than $392 million in refunds to consumers across the country.
The number of cigarettes that the largest cigarette companies in the United States sold to wholesalers and retailers nationwide decreased from 190.2 billion in 2021 to 173.5 billion in 2022, according to the Federal Trade Commission’s most recent Cigarette Report. The report also states that in 2022, menthol flavored cigarettes comprised 36 percent of the market among major manufacturers.
The amount spent on cigarette advertising and promotion decreased from $8.06 billion in 2021 to $8.01 billion in 2022. Price discounts paid to cigarette retailers ($5.74 billion) and wholesalers ($1.14 billion) were the two largest expenditure categories in 2022. Combined spending on price discounts accounted for 85.9 percent of industry spending.
According to the Smokeless Tobacco Report, smokeless tobacco sales decreased from 122 million pounds in 2021 to 113.3 million pounds in 2022. The revenue from those sales rose from $4.96 billion in 2021 to $4.98 billion in 2022. Menthol flavored smokeless tobacco products comprised more than half of all sales and fruit flavored smokeless tobacco products comprised 2.6 percent of pounds sold.
Spending on advertising and promotion by the major manufacturers of smokeless tobacco products in the U.S. decreased from $575.5 million in 2021 to $572.7 million in 2022. The two largest spending categories in 2022 were price discounts paid to retailers, which were $360.5 million, and promotional allowances paid to wholesalers, which were $44.7 million.
Smokeless tobacco manufacturers also reported selling $1.06 billion of nicotine lozenges, pucks and pouches not containing tobacco in 2022, more than double the $452.8 million sold in 2020.
The Commission has issued the Cigarette Report periodically since 1967 and the Smokeless Tobacco Report periodically since 1987.The Commission vote to issue both reports was 3-0.
The primary staffer on the reports is Michael Ostheimer in the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
The Federal Trade Commission has approved an amendment to the Safeguards Rule that would require non-banking institutions to report certain data breaches and other security events to the agency.
The FTC’s Safeguards Rule requires non-banking financial institutions, such as mortgage brokers, motor vehicle dealers, and payday lenders, to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive security program to keep their customers’ information safe. In October 2021, the FTC announced it had finalized changes to the Safeguards Rule to strengthen the data security safeguards that financial institutions are required to put in place to protect their customers’ financial information. The FTC also sought comment on a proposed supplemental amendment to the Safeguards Rule that would require financial institutions to report certain data breaches and other security events to the Commission.
“Companies that are trusted with sensitive financial information need to be transparent if that information has been compromised,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The addition of this disclosure requirement to the Safeguards Rule should provide companies with additional incentive to safeguard consumers’ data.”
The amendment announced today requires financial institutions to notify the FTC as soon as possible, and no later than 30 days after discovery, of a security breach involving the information of at least 500 consumers. Such an event requires notification if unencrypted customer information has been acquired without the authorization of the individual to which the information pertains. The notice to the FTC must include certain information about the event, such as the number of consumers affected or potentially affected.
The breach notification requirement becomes effective 180 days after publication of the rule in the Federal Register.
The Commission voted 3-0 to publish the notice amending the Safeguards Rule in the Federal Register.
The lead staffers on this matter are David Lincicum and Mark Eichorn in the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
Nearly 6,000 homes and businesses connected through ARPA funding in last year, with remaining locations to be connected by Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, other federal funding
SMYRNA, Del. – Governor John Carney joined state leaders and representatives of Comcast, Verizon, Mediacom, and the Communication Workers of America (CWA) at the Innovation Technology Exploration Center to celebrate progress on broadband expansion and preview next steps. With federal investments from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocated by Governor Carney, Delaware has successfully connected nearly 6,000 homes, businesses, and organizations to broadband in the last year. Delaware is on track to become the first state in the nation to be fully-connected.
President Biden signed the nearly $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) —legislation championed by Senator Tom Carper, Senator Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester— to provide COVID-19 relief to millions of Americans, and Governor Carney assigned $33 million of Delaware’s share for broadband expansion.
“Our goal is to have Delaware be the first state in the country to connect every home and business to high-speed internet within the next few years. If there is any state that can connect every home and business, it ought to be Delaware,” said Governor John Carney. “Every family deserves high-quality internet for school, work, and entertainment. I want to thank the members of the federal delegation and the Biden Administration providing this funding. It’s really making a difference for Delawareans.”
In the last 12 months, the State of Delaware and Comcast, Medicom, and Verizon have made high-speed internet available for the first time to 5,859 homes and businesses, mainly in rural areas of the state. There are 372 locations remaining to be installed with ARPA funding. Those locations will be reached over the next few months. Once those residences are competed, the State of Delaware will have spent $33 million in ARPA funding on broadband connection.
To learn more about how Delawareans have benefitted from ARPA funding, visit Governor Carney’s website.
President Biden signed the nearly $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) —legislation championed by Senator Tom Carper, Senator Chris Coons, and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester— to provide COVID-19 relief to millions of Americans. Governor Carney assigned $33 million of Delaware’s share for broadband expansion.
“The American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law continue to deliver for Delaware – this time connecting thousands of our residents to broadband internet who didn’t have access before,” said U.S. Senator Tom Carper. “The pandemic exacerbated many shortcomings with our broadband infrastructure, when so many Americans relied on it to connect to doctors for telehealth appointments, conduct schoolwork online, or work remotely. Today’s announcement connecting thousands of homes, businesses, and organizations to broadband is a win-win for Delaware and the success of these historic pieces of legislation.”
“The pandemic made clear just how necessary it is for every home in Delaware to have a fast, reliable, and affordable internet connection,” said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. “I’m proud to have worked with President Biden to negotiate and pass both American Rescue Plan Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. These two critical pieces of legislation are directly benefiting Delawareans, sending millions of dollars to the state to ensure that all Delawareans can access the internet and critical digital services.”
“Having helped author the broadband provisions of the American Rescue Plan, as a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, I couldn’t be more proud that Delaware is on track to be the first state in the nation that is fully connected. Since day one of his Administration, President Biden has made clear his commitment to investing in the people and places that make America strong — and today, we’re celebrating those investments right here in Delaware,” said US. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester. “Already almost 6,000 Delaware homes and businesses have been connected to the internet, and that means access to jobs, employment, health care and more. I’m thrilled to join Governor Carney and Senators Carper and Coons in celebrating this achievement for Delaware, and I look forward to keeping the momentum going with help of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.”
“Investment in high-quality broadband is a game-changer for families, communities, and businesses. Today, there are families who can now access job information, telehealth, online reading materials and more thanks to these ARPA investments and commitment from our federal and state officials and partners. To close the digital divide and ensure every Delawarean is successful and thriving, it’s important to build on this work. Every household, every community deserves to be connected to high-speed internet,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long.
The Delaware Department of Technology and Information (DTI) led this project for the State. DTI contracted providers already serving Delawareans with internet and found efficient ways for those providers to extend their existing networks using ARPA funding.
“Reliable and affordable high-speed internet is essential, and this investment of ARPA funding means that more than 6,000 additional Delaware homes and businesses will have the access they need,” said Greg Lane, CIO, Delaware Department of Technology and Information. “We know our work is far from over. Additional federal funding from the BEAD and Digital Equity Programs will support the connection of an estimated remaining Delaware 8,600 addresses, as well as help us ensure that everyone can take advantage of digital technologies that are accessible and affordable.”
“In partnership with Governor Carney and the Department of Technology and Information, Comcast is proud to complete the expansion of its Xfinity 10G Network to more than 2,600 additional homes and businesses in rural Delaware,” said Michael Parker, Senior Vice President of Comcast’s Beltway Region. “This is a great example of a public-private partnership that will not only help bridge the digital divide in rural Delaware, but also help fuel innovation and economic growth for decades to come.”
“We applaud Governor Carney and his team for their leadership in establishing a robust broadband program in Delaware,” said Eric Fitzgerald Reed, Public Policy & State Government Affairs for the DE, PA and NJ Region at Verizon. “Verizon is focused on delivering broadband internet services and this partnership expands high-speed broadband access to thousands of residents and will better connect our communities. We look forward to similar opportunities in other communities as they arise.”
“The public private partnership between the State of Delaware and Mediacom has brought world-class broadband services to nearly 1,600 homes and businesses in rural Sussex County that were previously unserved,” said Chris Lord, Mediacom’s Director of Government Partnerships. “Governor Carney and the staff at the Delaware Broadband Office should be commended for their steadfast commitment to eliminating the digital divide for all Delawareans.”
“CWA members are proud to have played a role in Delaware’s successful use of ARPA funds to connect an additional 6,000 Delaware homes and businesses to high-speed internet,” said Mike Watson, President of the Communication Workers of America, Local 13101. “This is just the start. With an additional $107 million in federal funds from the bipartisan infrastructure bill, Delaware can ensure that everyone in our state has access to reliable, high-speed internet services. And by setting high labor standards for broadband infrastructure projects, we can make sure it is done right, and create good, family-supporting jobs in the process.”
DTI is now planning to use Delaware’s funds from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to complete the work of connecting all Delaware homes and businesses, along with additional federal funding administered by the FCC. To learn more about broadband expansion in Delaware, visit the Delaware Department of Technology and Information’s website.
Delaware State Police investigated a threatening image reported by Cape Henlopen High School and Sussex Central High School.
On October 25, 2023, at approximately 2:44 p.m., the Cape Henlopen High School staff contacted the Delaware State Police regarding a concerning image of a gun and a threat to the school that is circulating on social media. In addition, Sussex Central High School staff contacted the Delaware State Police regarding the same concerning image. The investigation revealed the image has been circulating nationwide for the last several years. At this time, the Delaware State Police has no intelligence indicating that the threat was credible. Be mindful that the absence of intelligence does not mean the lack of a threat. Always call 911 to report suspicious activity.
The Newark Halloween Parade is this Sunday October 29. From 1430 – 1700 hours, the parade route will close the entire length of East Main Street from Library Avenue to South College Avenue. Local traffic will be permitted between Library Avenue and Tyre Avenue….
The Dover Police Department is investigating an armed carjacking that occurred Tuesday evening. The investigation began when officers were called to Sam’s Club at 7:11 p.m. for the report of an armed carjacking. Officers responded and contacted the victim, a 26-year-old male of Magnolia, who advised that he was approached by two black males in the parking lot of Sam’s Club, one of which was armed with a handgun. The suspects demanded the victim turn over property, including the victim’s car keys, and he complied. One suspect fled in the victim’s vehicle, which is a 2019 Dodge Charger Scat Pack with Delaware Registration 223742. The second suspect fled in a white four door sedan with window tint. Officers check the area for the vehicles and suspects with negative results.
Suspect 1 is described as a skinny black male, approximately 5’6″-5’7″, wearing a black ski mask, dark clothing, with a white scarf with a plaid design armed with a handgun.
Suspect 2 is described as a skinny black male approximately 6’1″ – 6’2″, with no clothing description provided.
This investigation is ongoing and anyone with information is asked to contact the Dover Police Department at (302) 736-7130. Callers may remain anonymous. Tips may also be submitted to law enforcement through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333 or online at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com ; a cash reward is possible for information leading to an arrest.
On Saturday October 28th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Newark Police Department and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will provide the public the opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted…
The Federal Trade Commission sued to stop four related defendants from deceptively marketing their 1 Virus Buster Invisible Mask (Invisible Mask) that purportedly creates a three-foot barrier of protection against 99.9 percent of all viruses and bacteria, including COVID-19 – without any scientific proof that the product actually works.
sent in July 2020, the New York-based defendants continued falsely advertising the Invisible Mask—a badge worn around the neck—as a scientifically proven defense against COVID-19 and other diseases and that it was a government-approved device, according to the FTC’s complaint.
Three of the four defendants have agreed to a proposed order settling the FTC’s complaint, and will be banned from making unsupported health claims for products designed to prevent or treat COVID-19.
“The defendants’ claims that their products can stand in for approved COVID-19 vaccines are bogus,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “The FTC will use every tool it has at its disposal to stop false and unsubstantiated health claims that endanger consumers.”
The complaint alleges defendants Gary Kong, Timothy Wetzel, and the two companies they operate, K W Technology Inc. and K W Technology NV Inc., violated the FTC Act and the Covid Consumer Protection Act through their marketing and sale of the Invisible Mask on their own website, YouTube, and Facebook, where it was called “The 1 Virus Buster Card.”
This card, which was worn around the neck or clipped onto clothing, was sold using deceptive claims, the FTC says. For example, the defendants claimed their product “uses quantum theory technology, combines known virus and bacteria killing compounds. It is safe, simple, and effective. All you need to do is hang it around your neck or attach it to your collar, close to your mouth and nose. . . it kills 99.9% of most harmful bacterial and viruses . . . within a three-foot radius.”
The FTC contends the defendants have no reliable scientific evidence to support their claims that the Invisible Mask can prevent any human disease, and that despite contacting the FTC after receiving the warning letter and vowing to stop making such claims, they simply continued deceptively marketing the product.
The complaint also alleges the defendants falsely claimed that the Invisible Mask or its materials are government approved or made in a government-approved facility. They also falsely claimed the Invisible Mask had “FDA Approval” and that that the materials used to make it are “EPA-approved.” On their website the defendants posted a phony “Certificate of Registration” with the FDA’s logo, despite the fact that no such agency certificate exists.
The Kong Proposed Order
Three of the defendants have agreed to settle the FTC’s complaint in this case. A proposed court order will ban defendants Kong and his two companies, K W Technology Inc. and K W Technology NV Inc., from advertising, promoting, or selling any product claiming to prevent or treat COVID-19, unless the claims are true and supported by scientific evidence. The order also will bar the defendants from making any health-related product claims unless they have scientific evidence that the claim is true and from making misrepresentations about products’ health benefits, performance, efficacy, safety, or side effects.
The order also prohibits the defendants from misrepresenting they have government approval, clearance, or authority for their products and product claims. Finally, it requires the payment of $150,000.
The Commission voted 3-0 to file the complaint and proposed stipulated order against defendants Kong, K W Technology Inc. and K W Technology NV Inc. The FTC filed the documents in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Litigation continues against defendant Wetzel, who did not agree to the proposed settlement.
The lead attorney on the matter is Robin L. Rock of the FTC’s Southeast Region.
The Federal Trade Commission and State of Wisconsin are taking action against Wisconsin auto dealer group Rhinelander Auto Center, its current and former owners, and general manager Daniel Towne for deceiving consumers by tacking hundreds or even thousands of dollars in illegal junk fees onto car prices and for discriminating against American Indian customers by charging them higher financing costs and fees.
The defendants have agreed to proposed court orders that will require Rhinelander’s current owners and Towne to stop their unlawful practices and provide $1.1 million to be used for refunds to consumers.
“Working closely with the State of Wisconsin, we are holding these dealerships accountable for discriminating against American Indian customers and sneaking junk fees onto consumers’ bills,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “A vehicle is one of the most expensive purchases families make, and we are fully committed to ensuring that all consumers navigating the car-buying process can do so without facing unlawful discrimination or paying for products and services they do not want.”
“Companies must not be permitted to engage in discriminatory practices or improperly charge customers for ‘add-on’ products or services,” said Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul. “Thank you to those at Wisconsin DOJ, the FTC, and other agencies whose work led to the filing of this complaint.”
In their complaint, the FTC and Wisconsin DOJ say that Rhinelander and Towne regularly charged many of their customers junk fees for “add-on” products or services without their consent. The complaint cites one survey of Rhinelander customers that shows half of the dealer’s customers said they were charged for add-ons without authorization or through deception. One consumer was told—deceptively—that Guaranteed Asset Protection (commonly referred to as “GAP,” or “GAP insurance”) was required for her car purchase, even though she didn’t want to buy it; it cost her more than $1,000 in fees and additional interest on her loan.
Rhinelander and Towne discriminated against American Indian customers in the cost of financing by adding more “markup” to their interest rates, according to the FTC’s complaint. This additional markup cost American Indian customers $401 more on average compared to non-Latino white customers. The complaint also notes that, since Rhinelander changed ownership in 2019, the disparity has only increased.
In addition, the complaint alleges that American Indian customers were charged for unwanted add-ons at a higher rate than non-Latino white customers. These additional junk fees can significantly drive up the amount that customers finance when they purchase their vehicle, which in turn leads to higher cost over the life of the loan. In total, American Indians paid on average approximately $1,362 more for add-ons in credit transactions than non-Latino White customers since 2016, and $1,374 more since the new ownership took over, according to the complaint.
The proposed settlement with Rhinelander’s current owners and Towne will require the company to stop deceiving consumers about whether add-ons are required for a purchase and obtain consumers’ express informed consent before charging them for add-ons. The settlement will also the require the defendants to establish a comprehensive fair lending program that, among other components, will allow consumers to seek outside financing for a purchase and cap the additional interest markup Rhinelander can charge consumers. The current owners and Towne will also be required to pay $1 million to be used to refund affected consumers.
The former owners, Rhinelander Auto Center, Inc. and Rhinelander Motor Company, have agreed to a separate settlement that would require the companies to permanently wind down the businesses and pay $100,000 to be used to refund affected consumers.
The Commission vote to authorize FTC staff to file the complaint and to approve the proposed stipulated final orders was 3-0. The complaint and proposed final orders were filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.
In addition to its partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Justice in this case, the FTC also thanks Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation; Department of Financial Institutions; and Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, as well as the Better Business Bureau of Wisconsin, for their assistance with this matter.
NOTE: The Commission authorizes the filing of a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. Consent judgments have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.
The FTC attorneys on this matter are Nathan Nash, Rachel Sifuentes and Rachel Granetz of the FTC’s Midwest Region.
The settlement with the State of Wisconsin is dependent on approval by Wisconsin’s Joint Committee on Finance per the requirements of 2017 Wisconsin Act 369.
The Laurel Police Department is requesting the public’s assistance locating the below pictured suspect for an active warrant related to a high-speed vehicle pursuit.
On 10/16/23 at approximately 7:50pm, a Laurel Police Officer on patrol attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a green Honda Civic after observing the vehicle traveling at 103MPH in a 55MPH zone. The officer also noticed the vehicle was displaying a fictitious registration plate.
Upon attempting to stop the vehicle, it fled at a high rate of speed. The officer briefly pursued the vehicle as it made multiple unsafe lane changes, disregarded traffic control devices, and passed in no-passing zones. The officer eventually discontinued the pursuit in the interest of public safety.
Further investigation determined the correct registration for the vehicle, along with the identification of the driver at the time of the pursuit. The driver was identified as Jason Dailey (35) of Milford, DE.
As a result of this incident, the investigating officer obtained warrants for Dailey’s arrest to answer for the following crimes:
-Disregarding Police Signal (Class G Felony) -Resisting Arrest (Class A Misdemeanor) -Driving While License Suspended/Revoked (Misdemeanor) -Aggressive Driving (Misdemeanor) -Reckless Driving 90MPH or Greater (Misdemeanor) -Several Additional Traffic Violations
The issuance of a warrant for the arrest of a subject is merely a showing of probable cause by the investigating agency related to the above incident. The subject, once arrested, is considered to be innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
A recent photo of Dailey’s vehicle is being included with this release due to the distinct features of the vehicle. If a member of the public observes Dailey or the pictured vehicle, please call 911. Please do not approach or attempt to confront Dailey.
Anyone with information about this incident or other criminal activity is asked to contact the Laurel Police Department at 302-875-2244 or by direct message to this page. Information can also be submitted anonymously to Delaware Crimestoppers by texting “KEYWORD” followed by your information to CRIMES (274637). Tips submitted to Crimestoppers that lead to an arrest are potentially eligible for a cash reward.
On October 14, 2023, Newark Police responded to the rear of a business in Shoppes at Louviers on Louviers Drive for a report of an indecent exposure. Officers detained a male subject, identified as Patrick Ellison, 27, of Middletown. The reporting person was not…
The Federal Trade Commission has submitted two reports to Congress detailing the agency’s efforts to combat cross-border fraud through the U.S. SAFE WEB Act and work contributing to the fight against ransomware and other cyber attacks that originate outside the United States.
The first report provides an update on the FTC’s efforts to implement the Undertaking Spam, Spyware, And Fraud Enforcement With Enforcers Beyond Borders Act, or U.S. SAFE WEB Act (SAFE WEB). The second report, which was required by the Reporting Attacks from Nations Selected for Oversight and Monitoring Web Attacks and Ransomware from Enemies Act (RANSOMWARE Act), addresses questions about FTC activities concerning China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran and the FTC’s efforts to combat ransomware—a type of cyber-related attack in which bad actors hold data or computer access hostage until they receive payment— and other types of cyber attacks.
SAFE WEB, passed by Congress in 2006, provides a framework to engage in cross-border assistance, including information sharing and investigative support. As the report notes, the law has been an indispensable tool in helping the FTC combat cross-border fraud and protect consumers in an increasingly global and digital economy. Thirty years ago, less than 1% of fraud reported to the FTC was cross border, while in 2022 more than 11% of complaints were cross border.
With the authority provided by SAFE WEB, the FTC has pursued and stopped harmful conduct in the United States and successfully defended against challenges to its jurisdictional authority over foreign companies targeting American consumers. The FTC has also worked with numerous foreign enforcers to stop cross-border injury and frauds.
SAFE WEB was reauthorized by Congress in 2020 for seven years. In the new report, the Commission urges Congress to permanently reauthorize SAFE WEB by removing the sunset provision currently set to expire on September 30, 2027, thus preserving the agency’s ability to effectively cooperate with foreign law enforcement to protect consumers. The report also reiterates the FTC’s call for Congress to restore the agency’s ability to get money back to consumers harmed by unlawful conduct and to prevent bad actors from profiting from their misconduct. The FTC’s authority to do so was severely hampered by the Supreme Court’s 2021 AMG decision.
Report on Ransomware and other Cyber Attacks
The second report details the FTC’s work to target ransomware and other cyber attacks. The report notes that one of the key ways the FTC has done this is by implementing a robust data security enforcement program aimed at ensuring companies take appropriate steps to protect personal data they hold from such attacks. The FTC has brought more than 80 enforcement actions involving data security. The agency also has pursued bad actors involved in ransomware-related tech support scams and worked to educate the public and businesses on how to secure and protect data from cyber attacks.
Only a small fraction of the millions of complaints the FTC receives each year involve ransomware and other cyber attacks, and these complaints rarely mention Iran, North Korea or Russia, according to the report. While China is the leading source of complaints about cross-border fraud, they rarely relate to ransomware and other cyber attacks, the report notes. The report details enforcement actions, mostly involving privacy and data security, the FTC has taken involving known or unverified connections to China and Russia.
The report reiterates the importance of SAFE WEB in helping to combat ransomware and other cyber attacks. The Commission also urges Congress to enact privacy and data security legislation, enforceable by the FTC, asserting that such legislation would advance the security of the United States and U.S. companies against ransomware and other cyber attacks.
The Commission votes to approve each report were 3-0.
The lead staffers on both reports are Stacy Procter and Angel Martinez in the FTC’s Office of International Affairs.
Over the past week, the Newark Police Department has received calls from residents about a telephone scam involving a person posing as a police officer from the Newark Police Department. During the call, the caller uses the name of a real Newark Police Officer…
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comments on the costs, benefits, necessity, and regulatory and economic impact of its Labeling Requirements for Alternative Fuels and Alternative Fueled Vehicles (AFVs), also called the Alternative Fuels Rule, including issues related to electric vehicle charging stations.
The FTC is conducting this review as part of its ongoing, systematic review of all agency rules and guides. With this request for comment, the FTC is starting a new review of the rule. The FTC first published the Alternative Fuels Rule in 1995 as directed by the Energy Policy Act of 1992. To enable consumers to make informed buying decisions, the rule requires informative labels on fuel dispensers for non-liquid alternative fuels, such as electricity, compressed natural gas, and hydrogen. The Commission completed its most recent review of the rule 10 years ago, and as part of that process, eliminated separate FTC labeling requirements for AFVs such as electric cars, and, in their place, incorporated the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) fuel economy labeling requirements into the rule.
In addition to seeking comments on general questions about the rule, the FTC now seeks comments on specific issues related to electric vehicle charging stations. The Federal Register notice announcing the request for public comments includes specific questions about labeling for electric vehicle charging stations operated by retailers for consumers. It details the current rule’s requirements regarding disclosures on all public electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and seeks input on whether, among other things, the FTC should make any changes to the content of the current EV charging stations label, what types of information the labels should disclose, and where they should appear.
Instructions for filing comments will be included the published notice. Comments must be received 60 days after the notice is published in the Federal Register. Once processed, comments will be posted on Regulations.gov. Consumers also may submit comments in writing by following the instructions in the “Supplementary Information” section of the notice. Comments must be received within 60 days after the request in published in the Federal Register.
The Commission vote approving publication of the request for public comments in the Federal Register was 3-0.
The primary staffer on this matter is Hampton Newsome in the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
The Federal Trade Commission has issued its latest report to Congress on protecting older adults, which highlights key trends based on fraud reports by older adults, and the FTC’s multi-pronged efforts to combat the problem through law enforcement actions, rulemaking, and outreach and education programs.
In addition, the report calls on Congress to update the FTC Act in response to the Supreme Court’s 2021 ruling in the AMG Capital Management case, which severely limited the FTC’s ability to recover money that older adults and other consumers lose to scammers.
“We do all we can to protect older adults and shut down the scams targeting them,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “But we still need Congress to restore our authority to get money back from the scammers and into consumers’ pockets.”
Because the vast majority of frauds are not reported, this figure represents only a fraction of the overall cost of fraud to older consumers, which the FTC estimates to be as high as $48 billion. The report also finds that in 2022, older adults reported significantly higher losses to investment scams, business impersonation scams and government impersonation scams than they did in 2021:
Investment scams: $404 million reported lost, up 175% from 2021.
Business impersonation scams: $271 million reported lost, up 78% from 2021.
Tech support scams: $159 million reported lost, up 117% from 2021.
As in prior years, the analysis of fraud reports received by the FTC in 2022 showed that adults aged 60 and over were substantially less likely to report losing money to fraud than adults aged 18-59. When they did report losing money, though, they tended to report losing substantially more than younger adults. Consumers 80 and older reported losing a median of $1,750 to fraud, while those in their seventies reported a median loss of $1,000, with both numbers increasing over 2021.
The analysis included in the report to Congress also found that adults 60 and older were more than six times as likely as adults aged 18 to 59 to report losing money to a tech support scam. Older adults were more than twice as likely to report a loss to a prize, lottery or sweepstakes scam, and 73 percent more likely to report losing money to a friend or family impersonation scam.
The report’s analysis shows that older adults filed the largest number of reports about online frauds—where consumers were first exposed to the fraud via social media, the web, or online ads. The largest median losses, however, were reported by older adults on fraud that started with a phone call. The impact of scams where older adults were contacted on social media also increased; the median reported loss from this type of scam jumped from $460 in 2021 to $800 in 2022.
The report focuses on key actions the FTC has taken to protect older consumers, particularly in light of the Supreme Court’s AMG Capital decision. In 2022, the Commission issued a notice of proposed rulemaking on government and business impersonation, which is aimed at curbing a form of fraud that has resulted in tremendous losses for older consumers. A new rule would offer additional tools for the FTC to seek refunds for consumers harmed by these scams.
In addition, the report notes a number of enforcement actions that had a particular impact on older consumers, including cases against Publishers Clearing House for using dark patterns to mislead consumers into thinking that making a purchase would increase their chances of winning the company’s sweepstakes drawing; a company that placed more than a billion calls to consumers, including hundreds of robocalls and calls to consumers on the National Do-Not-Call Registry; a bogus credit card relief scheme; a timeshare exit scam; a company making false health claims about COVID prevention; and current and former major distributors for the multi-level marketing company doTERRA for making baseless claims about COVID treatments. The report highlights a number of ongoing law enforcement partnerships in which the FTC works with other federal agencies, along with state and local authorities, to take actions to protect older consumers.
Finally, the report details the FTC’s outreach and education efforts through such programs as the Pass it On campaign, which focuses on providing fraud prevention resources to older adults so they can help protect their communities by sharing the information and materials with family and friends. It also details the FTC’s ongoing efforts to implement the Stop Senior Scams Act of 2022.
The Commission vote authorizing the report to Congress was 3-0.
Sollers College and its parent company, Sollers Inc., have been ordered to cancel $3.4 million in student debt to resolve separate charges brought by the Federal Trade Commission and the state of New Jersey that said the companies lured prospective students to enroll by falsely touting their job-placement rates and that their relationships with prominent companies would lead to jobs after students graduate.
The for-profit school also had an illegal twist to the “income share agreements” it encouraged students to take out to pay for the school, according to the FTC’s complaint. Income-share agreements require students to pay the school a percentage of their future income in exchange for covering their tuition.
“Not only did Sollers College use deceptive advertisements to attract students, it trapped them in multi-year income share agreements that broke the law by leaving out important borrower rights,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Today’s order cancels all income-share agreements issued by the school. Companies that skirt long‑standing consumer protection laws when offering new financing products should be on notice that the FTC takes these violations seriously.”
According to the FTC’s complaint, Sollers, and its parent company, used their website, social media, and email campaigns to falsely advertise their partnerships with prominent employers in the fields of information technology, clinical research, and drug safety. Sollers falsely claimed that its partnerships with prominent employers, such as Pfizer, Weill Cornell Medicine, and Infosys, resulted in jobs for its graduates at those companies. In reality, many of the businesses featured on Sollers’ website had no partnership with the school at all.
The complaint states that, since at least 2018, Sollers advertised that the vast majority of Sollers graduates are placed in jobs. For example, the company advertised, “90% of our students are placed within 3 months of graduation,” on its website. In reality, the job placement rate for Sollers graduates is substantially lower than the 80 percent, 82 percent, 90 percent or “near perfect” rates featured prominently on its website and in its advertising campaigns. For example, the school’s own data suggests that the current job-placement rate for graduates of its Life Sciences programs remains as low as 52 percent.
In addition, the complaint notes that Sollers encouraged students to pay for their education using income-share agreements. Under the specific terms of Sollers’s contracts, students agreed to pay Sollers a fixed percentage of their future income on a monthly basis, typically for two years. Between August 2018 and April 2021, the school entered into 392 illegal agreements, none of which included certain disclosures mandated by law. Specifically, the agreements failed to include the Holder Rule notice, which protects consumers who enter certain loans or credit contracts by preserving their right to assert claims and defenses, even if the loans or contracts are assigned to a third party. Sollers later sold a portion of the agreements to third parties.
Under the stipulated order, the for-profit is prohibited from falsely advertising any educational product or service. The order also prohibits the company from denying access to diplomas or transcripts based on any debt forgiven by the proposed order.
Specifically, Sollers must:
stop collecting debts from students on any income-share agreements it currently holds;
re-purchase any income share agreements it sold to third parties to stop collection efforts on those agreements;
request that consumer reporting agencies delete the debt from consumers’ credit reports;
and provide written notification to consumers who are receiving debt forgiveness under the proposed order.
The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint and stipulated final order was 3-0. The complaint and stipulated final order will be filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
The staff attorneys on this matter are Wendy Miller and Paul Mezan of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. Stipulated final orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.
The Dover Police Department has arrested Joshua Collins, 38, of Felton, Holly Ramsey,32, of Felton, David Evans,39, of Dover and Katie Miller,31, of Dover, following a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle early Monday morning. The investigation began when Officers observed a stolen GMC van traveling northbound on South DuPont Highway in the area of Lotus Street. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle and the vehicle fled at a high rate of speed. Officers initiated a vehicle pursuit which traveled south to Camden, DE and west on Westville Road into Maryland. Delaware State Police and Maryland State Police were contacted for assistance. The pursuit last approximately 45 minutes and ended in Easton, Maryland where the vehicle pulled into a private drive way. When the vehicle stopped, the driver, Collins, ran from the vehicle into a wooded area. Collins was taken into custody shortly after with the assistance of Dover Police K-9 Jits. The other occupants, Ramsey, Evans and Miller were taken into custody without incident. An 11-month-old child was also located in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed approximately .005 grams of methamphetamine and paraphernalia.
Further investigation revealed that Collins and Ramsey were currently wanted by the Delaware State Police for charges related to the 11-month-old located in the vehicle.
The 11-month-old was turned over to the Delaware Division of Family Services.
All of the defendants will be held in Maryland pending extradition to Delaware.
Upon returning to Delaware the individuals will be charged as follows:
Collins: -Disregarding a Police Officers Signal -Receiving Stolen Property Over $1,500 -Conspiracy Second Degree -Endangering the Welfare of a Child -Resisting Arrest -Possession of Methamphetamine -Possession of Drug Paraphernalia -Multiple Traffic Offenses
Ramsey: -Receiving Stolen Property Over $1,500 -Conspiracy Second Degree -Endangering the Welfare of a Child
Evans: -Receiving Stolen Property Over $1,500 -Conspiracy Second Degree
Miller: -Receiving Stolen Property Over $1,500 -Conspiracy Second Degree -Possession of Methamphetamine -Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Delaware State Police arrested 52-year-old Kelly M. Raabof Frankford, Delaware, for felony theft on Thursday morning.
On January 31, 2023, at approximately 3:14 p.m., the Delaware State Police Financial Crimes Unit met with local Girl Scout Troop representatives regarding a theft. Kelly Raab was identified as the former treasurer of the Girl Scout Troop. Following a ten-month investigation, troopers discovered that Raab issued and cashed fraudulent checks in addition to making unauthorized payment card transactions during her time as treasurer with the Girl Scouts from January 2018 to November 2022. The total loss amounted to more than $12,000.
On October 12, 2023, Rabb turned herself into Troop 4, where she was charged with the following crime:
Theft over $1500 (Felony)
Raab was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on her own recognizance.
On October 13, 2023, at about 2234 hours, Newark Police responded to a residence in the 200-block of Haines Street for a report of an attempted burglary that just occurred. Arriving officers found that the suspect had already left the area. An investigation at…
The court found that corporate defendants Day Pacer, LLC and Edutrek, L.L.C. purchased consumers’ contact information primarily from websites claiming to help people find jobs, and instead illegally called those consumers to market unsolicited vocational or post-secondary education services. The court also found that the defendants assisted and facilitated other telemarketing companies by paying them to make approximately 40 million calls to consumers on the Do Not Call Registry. Additionally, the court found that individual defendants Raymond Fitzgerald, Ian Fitzgerald, and David Cumming directly participated in or had authority to control the corporations’ deceptive acts or practices, and were therefore also liable.
The court found that the defendants knowingly violated the Telemarketing Sales Rule, citing evidence that the defendants had ignored repeated complaints from consumers and warnings from business partners.
In granting summary judgment, the court found that the FTC was entitled to both injunctive relief and civil penalties. The court has scheduled a hearing to determine the amount of the civil penalty award and the scope of injunctive relief.
On October 10, 2023, the Newark Police Department located an unoccupied stolen motor vehicle. During the investigation two suspects entered the motor vehicle and fled from investigating officers, nearly striking a marked police car. Officers observed that an occupant of the stolen vehicle was…
Delaware State Police arrested 63-year-old Ralph Cahall, III, of Greenwood, for 6th offense DUI and other traffic-related charges on Tuesday.
On October 10, 2023, at approximately 8:35 p.m., a trooper on patrol in the area of Unity Lane and Deep Grass Lane in Greenwood observed a black Chevrolet pickup truck that only had only one operable headlight. The trooper attempted to conduct a traffic stop. However, the driver later identified as Ralph Cahall, disregarded the trooper’s signal and began fleeing at what appeared to be a high rate of speed. After a brief vehicle pursuit, the trooper stopped pursuing the vehicle for the safety of the motoring public. The vehicle was later observed by the trooper on a dirt lane near the 14000 block of Staytonville Road.
As the trooper approached the vehicle, Cahall was observed running into a wooded area, where he was taken into custody without incident a short time later. After Cahall was taken into custody, the trooper noticed that he displayed signs of impairment. The trooper conducted Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and determined that Cahall was under the influence.
Cahall was taken to Troop 3, where a computer check revealed he had five previous DUI convictions. He was charged with the following crimes:
6th offense DUI (Felony)
Disregarding a Police Officer Signal
Resisting Arrest
Numerous traffic-related charges
Cahall was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $7570 secured bond.
Delaware State Police arrested 57-year-old Michael Switzer of Millsboro, Delaware, for felony theft at Wawa in Millsboro Tuesday morning.
On October 10, 2023, at approximately 6:42 a.m., a trooper responded to Wawa, located at 24930 John J. Williams Highway in Millsboro, for a theft complaint. Witness interviews and a review of video surveillance revealed that a store employee, Michael Switzer, had been stealing cartons of cigarettes valued at approximately $10,800 since June 2023 and then reselling them to unknown people. The trooper contacted Switzer at the store and took him into custody without incident. Switzer was transported to Troop 7 and charged with one count of felony theft.
He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on his own recognizance.
The Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) obtained a settlement that will require credit reporting agency Trans Union LLC and a subsidiary to pay a total of $15 million to settle charges they failed to ensure the accuracy of tenant screening reports by including inaccurate and incomplete eviction records about consumers, hampering their ability to obtain housing.
In a complaint filed in federal court, the FTC and CFPB say that Colorado-based TransUnion Rental Screening Solutions, Inc. (TURSS) and its parent company, Trans Union LLC, based in Chicago and commonly known as TransUnion, violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) by failing to ensure the accuracy of the information included in their tenant background screening reports.
“Consumers struggling to find housing shouldn’t be shut out by tenant screening reports that are ridden with errors and based on data from secret sources,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Protecting consumers looking for housing is critical to a fair economy, and we are proud to partner with the CFPB in obtaining this record-breaking order.”
“Americans across the country were put at risk of wrongful housing denials because TransUnion failed to follow the law,” said CFPB Director Rohit Chopra. “We are ordering TransUnion to cease its yearslong illegal activity, clean up its broken business practices, redress its victims, and pay penalties.”
TURSS provides background screening reports about consumers to thousands of clients, including rental property owners, property management companies, employers, and other background screening companies, for tenant and employee selection. These reports may include information about consumers’ criminal and eviction records, including the amount sought by a landlord in court, any judgment amount the court may award, and the amounts owed by consumers. Trans Union LLC manages and oversees TURSS’s compliance with the FCRA.
Inaccurate and outdated information in tenant screening reports can significantly hamper consumers’ ability to find housing, costing them time and money by prolonging their search for housing, requiring them to pay additional application fees and spend time correcting errors in their background reports.
TURSS obtains eviction records from third-party provider LexisNexis Risk and Information Analytics Group, Inc. but has failed to take steps to ensure the accuracy of the data it was provided, according to the complaint. The FTC and CFPB say TURSS failed to follow reasonable procedures to: prevent the inclusion of multiple entries for the same eviction case; accurately report the disposition of eviction cases it included in its reports; accurately label the monetary amounts associated with those cases; and prevent the inclusion of sealed eviction records in its background reports.
Until April 2021, TURSS often reported developments in the same eviction proceeding as separate events, making it appear as if a consumer had more than one eviction, according to the complaint. The company took steps to change that practice only after learning of the FTC’s investigation. The company also failed to follow reasonable procedures to accurately report the outcome of evictions, such as reporting an eviction was filed without reporting that it was also dismissed months or years before, or reporting that a landlord was awarded a judgment in an eviction proceeding when the case was actually dismissed.
The company also included inaccurate labels in its reports that mischaracterized the nature of certain information in consumers’ eviction records, according to the complaint. The company labeled money that a landlord claimed a consumer owed as “Judgment Amount,” giving the false impression that this was the amount awarded by a court. The complaint also charges that TURSS failed to put in place reasonable procedures to prevent eviction records that had been sealed, or restricted from public view, by a court from appearing in its reports.
The FTC and CFPB also say that TURSS violated the FCRA by failing in many instances to provide consumers with the names of third-party vendors from whom it received criminal and eviction records included in its tenant screening reports, which made it harder for consumers to correct errors in their background reports.
Under the proposed order, which must be approved by a federal court before it can go into effect, TURSS and Trans Union LLC will be required to pay $11 million, which will be used to compensate consumers, and a $4 million civil penalty, which will go to the CFPB’s civil penalty fund. This is the largest amount ever recovered in an FTC tenant screening matter. In addition, the companies must also take steps to address the allegations of the complaint and help enable consumers to dispute inaccurate information in the future, including:
Put in place procedures to ensure the accuracy of information they provide about consumers in background screening reports, particularly information related to evictions;
Design procedures to prevent the inclusion of the types of problematic records detailed in the complaint including sealed records, unresolved eviction cases, multiple filings for a single eviction case, and any monetary amounts other than final judgments;
Disclose the sources of information in a consumer’s file, including identifying third-party vendors;
Implement practices and procedures that will help the companies identify future problems with criminal and eviction records and take corrective steps to fix them;
Provide consumers upon request and at no charge all the information in their file at the time of the request, including any information that TURSS might provide to a landlord or property manager; and
Make available on TURSS’s website a sample “adverse action notice letter” that landlords can use when they turn down applicants for housing, which will prompt the landlord to share the applicant’s tenant screening report and tell them why they are denying their application.
The Commission vote authorizing the staff to file the complaint and stipulated final order was 3-0. The FTC and CFPB filed the complaint and stipulated final orderin the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado.
NOTE: The Commission files a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the named defendants are violating or are about to violate the law and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. Stipulated final orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.
The lead staffers on this matter are Jarad Brown and Whitney Moore in the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
The Federal Trade Commission announced a settlement with bankrupt crypto company Voyager that will permanently ban it from handling consumers’ assets and is filing suit against its former CEO, Stephen Ehrlich, for falsely claiming that customers’ accounts were insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and were “safe,” even as the company was approaching an eventual bankruptcy. The complaint also names Stephen Ehrlich’s wife, Francine Ehrlich, as a relief defendant.
In the federal court complaint, the FTC charges that from at least 2018 until it declared bankruptcy in July 2022, Voyager used promises that consumers’ deposits would be “safe” to entice them to hand over their funds. When the company failed, consumers lost access to significant assets they had saved, including ongoing salary deposits, college tuition funds, and down payments for homes, according to the complaint, which notes that consumers were locked out of their cash accounts for more than a month and lost more than $1 billion in crypto assets.
“Consumers reported over $1.4 billion in losses to cryptocurrency scams in the last year, and the FTC continues to crack down on those who lie to consumers about these risky assets,” said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “This action reminds companies and individuals: don’t play fast and loose with claims about FDIC insurance.”
The proposed settlement with Voyager and its affiliates will permanently ban the companies from offering, marketing, or promoting any product or service that could be used to deposit, exchange, invest, or withdraw any assets. The companies also agreed to a judgment of $1.65 billion, which will be suspended to permit Voyager to return its remaining assets to consumers in the bankruptcy proceedings. Former executive Stephen Ehrlich has not agreed to a settlement and the FTC’s case against him will proceed in federal court.
According to the complaint, Voyager enticed consumers to deposit cash and cryptocurrency with the company based on assurances that their assets were especially safe on the platform. The company offered incentives to consumers who converted the cash they deposited into a cryptocurrency called USD Coin, a so-called “stablecoin” that claims to track the value of the U.S. dollar.
The company’s marketing included direct promises about the safety of consumers’ deposits. One example cited in the complaint included the line “YOUR USD IS FDIC INSURED”
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Voyager, however, is not a bank or financial institution, and the deposits consumers made with Voyager were not eligible to be insured by the FDIC. The complaint notes that the FDIC does not insure crypto assets at all, and consumers’ cash deposits were actually placed in an account held by Voyager at a traditional bank that also issued debit cards on behalf of Voyager. Consumers’ cash was only protected if that bank itself failed, and their cryptocurrency wasn’t protected at all.
The complaint notes that Voyager was aware that the company’s claims could mislead consumers. The bank where Voyager deposited consumers’ funds contacted the company in 2021 saying the claims were “potentially misleading.” A bank representative went on to say that “a reasonable consumer could conclude that his USDC [USD Coin] held with Voyager is FDIC-insured.” While Voyager made some changes to its cardholder agreement, the complaint notes that the company continued its misleading advertisements. The company only removed the FDIC claims from its advertising after receiving a cease-and-desist letter from the FDIC.
Ehrlich himself, in a June 2022 letter to Voyager customers, reassured them of the company’s stability, claimed it was “well-capitalized and positioned to weather the bear market,” and said that consumers’ funds were “as safe with us as at a bank.”
Two weeks later, the company froze consumers’ access to their accounts.
The FTC staff complaint alleges that Voyager and Stephen Ehrlich violated the FTC Act’s prohibition on deceptive practices and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act’s prohibition on obtaining a customer’s financial information through false, fictitious, or fraudulent statements. The complaint also alleges that Stephen Ehrlich transferred millions of dollars to his wife Francine, including funds that can be traced directly to the alleged unlawful conduct.
In addition to banning Voyager and its affiliated companies from handling consumers’ assets, the proposed settlement prohibits the companies from misrepresenting the benefits of any product or service; from making false, fictitious, or fraudulent representations to any customer of a financial institution in order to obtain or attempt to obtain their financial information; and from disclosing nonpublic personal information about consumers without their express consent.
The Commission voted 3-0 to file a complaint against Voyager and its affiliated companies, Stephen Ehrlich, and relief defendant Francine Ehrlich and to approve a stipulated order with Voyager and its affiliated companies. The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
In a parallel action, on October 12, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission separately charged Ehrlich with fraud and registration failures.
NOTE: The Commission authorizes the filing of a complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. Stipulated orders have the force of law when approved and signed by the District Court judge.
The staff attorneys on this matter are Quinn Martin, Sanya Shahrasbi, and Larkin Turner of the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection.
NEW CASTLE, Del. – On Saturday, October 28, 2023, the Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) Police Department will participate in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) twenty-fifth National Prescription Drug Take Back Day. This initiative, which focuses on removing potentially dangerous drugs from our nation’s homes, provides an opportunity for the public to surrender expired, unwanted, or unused pharmaceuticals and other medications to law enforcement officers for proper disposal.
“We’re pleased to be able to once again participate in this national program to take old prescription drugs and expired over-the-counter medicines out of circulation,” said Col. Wayne McFadden of the DRBA Police Department. “With the proper disposal of unused or expired prescription drugs, you’re ensuring that these medications don’t find their way into the wrong hands. We encourage folks to take advantage of this convenient, anonymous way to clean out that medicine cabinet.”
This easy, hassle-free program is strictly confidential. “No questions or requests for identification will be made by law enforcement personnel present,” McFadden added. “In fact, participants will be asked to remove any personal information from bottles or packages.”
Numerous collections sites are established throughout the area for the public to relinquish over the counter, controlled substances, or prescription drugs – including tablets, capsules, ointments, creams and liquids as well as expired animal medication and vitamins. No syringes please.
Since the bi-state agency began participating in the NTBI in 2010, more than 2,800 pounds of medication have been collected at DRBA sites.
When: October 28, 2023; 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Where: The DRBA Police Department has established three collection sites:
Wilmington Airport Terminal Building, 151 N. DuPont Highway, New Castle, DE
Lewes Ferry Terminal, 43 Cape Henlopen Drive, Lewes, DE
Cape May Ferry Terminal, 1200 Lincoln Blvd., N. Cape May, NJ
Typical methods for disposing of unused medicines – either flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash – pose potential safety, health, and environmental risks. Drugs thrown in the trash can be retrieved, abused, or illegally sold. Flushing unwanted medicines may contaminate the water supply. Proper disposal of unused drugs saves lives and protects the environment.
The public can find the nearest collection sites in their community by logging on to the internet and going to the www.dea.gov website and clicking on the drug disposal icon. After clicking on the icon, you must enter your zip code and the database will query the collection sites that have been registered and provide you with the nearest collection site near that zip code.
About the Delaware River and Bay Authority
The DRBA, a bi-state governmental agency created by Compact in 1962, owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May- Lewes Ferry, and the Forts Ferry Crossing. The DRBA also manages corporate and aviation properties through its economic development powers – two airports in New Jersey (Millville Airport and Cape May Airport) and three in Delaware (New Castle Airport, Civil Air Terminal and Delaware Airpark). All DRBA operating revenues are generated through the bridge, ferry and airport facilities. For more information, visit www.drba.net.
After a period of very dry and chilly conditions over the weekend and throughout much of this week, we have a potential storm looming towards the weekend. Computer guidance has been hinting at a Miller B type of coastal storm to sweep across the northern tier of the nation and redeveloping a coastal low right off to our east.
“Miller B Nor’easters is a low pressure system first tracks over the Midwest, bringing a swath of rain, sleet or snow to parts of the Plains. This storm generally moves into the Kentucky/Ohio River Valley before it starts to transfer energy to a newly forming low pressure system along the coast of North Carolina and Virginia. From here, the newly redeveloped storm takes a northerly path before making a turn out to sea.”.
Our storm first develops across the Central Plains as a fairly strong system already on Friday before heading into our region on Saturday with rain and breezy conditions. Then the low begins to transfer off the coast of us and begins to redevelop with increasing northeasterly winds. European model ensembles really show a very good cluster of low centers right off the coast of Jersey showing there is a good potential for this to occur. So more than likely, get ready for more wind, rain, and coastal flooding going into the weekend with the new moon ahead.
Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal crash involving a bicyclist in Bethany on Tuesday morning.
On October 3, 2023, at approximately 10:47 a.m., a bicyclist was traveling southbound on the southbound shoulder of Coastal Highway just south of the Indian River Inlet Bridge. A 2020 Lexus was traveling southbound in the left lane, approaching the bicyclist. The bicyclist turned left, crossing from the right to the left lane in front of the Lexus. This resulted in the bicyclist being ejected after colliding with the front of the Lexus.
The 71-year-old bicyclist from Hockessin, who was wearing a helmet, was taken to the hospital for serious injuries. On October 5, 2023, the bicyclist died from his injuries. His name is being withheld until his family is notified. The driver of the Lexus, a 62-year-old man from Ocean View, was not injured during the crash.
Both southbound lanes of Coastal Highway were closed for approximately 2.5 hours to investigate the crash and remove any obstructions from the roadway.
Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues investigating this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this crash to contact Senior Corporal J. Smith by calling (302) 703-3267. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
During the month of September, 2023, the Newark Police Department Street Crimes Unit investigated the illegal distribution of drugs in Newark. During the course of the investigation, drug purchases were made from Patrick Lamb, 42, of New Castle. Following multiple purchases, a search warrant…
On October 4, 2023, Newark Police responded to a residence in the unit block of Continental Avenue for a report of a residential burglary. An investigation at the scene determined that between 0100 – 0730 hours that morning, unknown suspect(s) entered the unlocked residence. …
New campaign spearheaded by Lt. Gov. Hall-Long and Delaware Governor’s Challenge seeks to help identify military members and veterans with mental health concerns
WILMINGTON, Del. — Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long and the Delaware Governor’s Challenge announced a new campaign on Thursday that aims to better identify suicide risk among military members and veterans. The “Ask the Question” campaign will be piloted at the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health’s Bridge Clinics.
The campaign centers around breaking the stigma and identifying risk by first asking the question: Have you, or a member of your immediate family, ever served in the military? The goal is to connect Delawareans with service experience to resources that they’ve earned and help address their unique needs.
“While we’ve taken steps to address suicide prevention, there are still far too many Delawareans reluctant to seek help and share their experiences. Our military members are especially at risk with veterans and service members 4 times more likely to die by suicide than civilian counterparts,” said Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long, Ph.D, R.N and co-chair of the Delaware Governor’s Challenge. “Asking the question regarding service is just the entry point; this initiative is about ensuring veterans and service members are connected to the resources they’ve earned. I’m so grateful for the Delaware Governor’s Challenge team and the partnership of the DSAMH Bridge Clinics to specifically respond to the needs of our veterans and service members through the “Ask the Question” campaign.”
Formed in 2022, the Delaware Governor’s Challenge is co-chaired by Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long and retired Major General Frank Vavala, and is in collaboration with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It is part of a national effort that seeks to expand mental health resources for the veteran community and implement suicide prevention best practices and policies for veterans, service members, and their families across the state by using a public health approach. There are three key priority areas:
Identifying Service Members, Veterans, and Their Families (SMVF) and Screening for Suicide Risk
Promoting Connectedness and Improving Care Transitions
Increasing Lethal Means Safety and Safety Planning
Delaware is home to more than 66,000 veterans, according to data from SAMHSA and the VA. Through this challenge, public-private partners are working to combine community-based strategies, prevention, and intervention to support service members and veterans, and build on plans for the First State.
“Communication is the key to breaking the stigma. We have to address veteran and military suicide head-on, and asking the question about risk in a sensitive, culturally competent manner is the first step,” said Major General Frank Vavala. “Our military members put their lives on hold to serve their country, we need to be there for them when they cry out for help.”
“Ask the Question” serves as a call to action and has been adopted in other states participating in the national Governor’s Challenge, such as New Hampshire and Maryland. As part of Delaware’s “Ask the Question” pilot, Bridge Clinic staff will utilize a two-prong approach to identify and address suicide risk. Following the SAMHSA and VA best practice Columbia Protocol, anyone coming into the Bridge Clinics will be screened for suicide risk and asked about service status. If someone is identified as having service experience, then they will be offered a peer professional to help assess any underlying causes that may impact suicide risk like social determinants of health. Additionally, the campaign helps to connect Bridge Clinic staff with professional development opportunities on military cultural competency and resources from other states who are engaging with the Governor’s Challenge.
“DSAMH is thankful to be a part of the ‘Ask the Question’ campaign. Asking the question, ‘Have you, or a member of your immediate family, ever served in the military?’ can lead to improved access to care and quality of care for our veterans. This initiative will engage and educate providers throughout Delaware about the importance of connecting with those who have served,” said Dr. Gerard Gallucci, MD MHS, Acting Medical Director for the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health.
Are you a clinician, provider, family member, service member or veteran looking to get involved with the Delaware Governor’s Challenge? Here are a few ways to link with the team:
Visit the website de.gov/governorschallenge to learn more
Email [email protected] to join a workgroup on a challenge priority area
Governor Carney signed HB 172, “An Act To Ammend The Charter Of Laurel” 9/21/23. Sponsored by Representative Dukes, and Senator Richardson. This bill increases the amount of money the Town of Laurel is permitted to raise from levying and collecting taxes from $500,000 to $2,500,000. The Bill went into effect immediatly upon the Governor signing.
Delaware State Police arrested 17-year-old Shakur Bowen for the murder of a missing Hurlock, Maryland man.
On September 22, 2023, at approximately 12 p.m., 41-year-old David Thomas Jr. was reported missing by family members. The investigation revealed that on September 15, 2023, Thomas visited his family in Kent County, borrowed a car from a family member, and failed to return it. Detectives attempted to locate and contact him but were unsuccessful, so a Gold Alert was issued.
Through the course of this investigation, detectives continued to search for Thomas. On September 29, 2023, detectives found what appeared to be human remains in a tax ditch located in Meadowbrook Acres. The Division of Forensic Science confirmed that the suspected human remains belonged to David Thomas Jr.
Shakur Bowen was identified as a suspect who shot and killed Thomas through investigative means. On October 2, 2023, at approximately 2 p.m., Bowen was contacted and transported to Troop 3, where he was charged with the following crimes:
Murder First Degree (Felony)
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony)
Hindering Prosecution
Abusing a Corpse
Conspiracy Third Degree
Bowen was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to the Department of Corrections on a $500,000 cash bond.
The Delaware State Police arrested 34-year-old Autumn Bray of Camden, Delaware, for weapon-related and DUI charges early Sunday morning in Dover.
On October 1, 2023, at approximately 3:59 a.m., a trooper on patrol saw a white Range Rover traveling northbound on South Dupont Highway with no license plate and the right rear wheel tire missing. While behind it, the trooper observed the vehicle leaving the left edge of the roadway, crossing over the single yellow line, and going onto a curb. The trooper stopped the vehicle on the shoulder of South Dupont Highway, south of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in Dover, Delaware. While in contact with the operator, identified as Autumn Bray, the trooper detected signs of impairment. Bray completed Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and was subsequently taken into custody without incident. During a search incident to an arrest, the trooper located a loaded handgun concealed inside the front of Bray’s jeans. A computer check showed Bray did not have a valid permit to carry a concealed deadly weapon.
Bray was transported to Troop 3, where she was charged with the following crimes:
Carrying Concealed Deadly Weapon (Felony)
Possession of a Firearm While Under the Influence
Driving Under the Influence of Drug
Traffic Offenses
Bray was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and released on her own recognizance.
Delaware State Police arrested 61-year-old Roy Brown of Millsboro, Delaware, for 7th offense DUI following a traffic stop on Sunday evening in Rehoboth Beach.
On October 1, 2023, at approximately 9:55 p.m., a trooper on patrol observed a maroon Saturn SUV traveling southbound on Coastal Highway south of Postal Lane, swerving from the right lane into the middle lane and fluctuating speeds. As the vehicle approached the red light on Coastal Highway at Old Landing Road, the operator abruptly made a right turn onto Old Landing Road without activating the right turn signal. The trooper stopped the Saturn, contacted the operator, identified as Roy Brown, and detected signs of impairment. Brown was taken into custody after he partially completed the Standard Field Sobriety Test. A computer check showed a court order resulting from a DUI that prevented Brown from driving a motor vehicle, along with several prior DUI convictions.
Brown was transported to Troop 7, where he was charged with the following crimes:
7th Offense DUI (Felony)
Noncompliance with Bond Conditions (Felony)
Traffic Offenses
Brown was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $22,600 cash bond.
Delaware State Police arrested 19-year-old Timothy Lawrence, of Dagsboro, Delaware for a weapons-related offense following an argument on Wednesday morning.
On September 27, 2023, at approximately 5:13 a.m., troopers responded to a residence on the 31000 block of Hope Street in Ocean View, Delaware, for a disorderly conduct. The investigation revealed that a verbal argument occurred between an 18-year-old female victim and Lawrence, her roommate’s boyfriend. During the argument, the victim told him to leave the residence. Lawrence then removed a knife from his pocket and waved it in the victim’s face. As Lawrence walked toward the door to leave the room, he stabbed the wall with the knife. No one was injured during the argument.
Troopers then made contact with Lawrence and took him into custody without incident. He was transported to Dagsboro Police Department, where he was charged with the following crimes:
Aggravated Menacing (Felony)
Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
Lawrence was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to the Sussex Correction Institution on a $7,000 secured bond.
As we approach closer to the winter months here on Delmarva, we are already looking at the signs ahead for what kind of winter could we have been looking at. The last several years we have been stuck in a La Nina pattern across the Pacific. (colder than normal water temperatures). But this winter we are getting a bigger change. We got a El Nino in place and a decent strength one too.
Right now from the look of the data, we are currently in a moderate strength El Nino. Could go into the strong territory’s during the winter but we shall see as we get closer to December.
Snow lovers last year was extremely disappointed as we pretty much got a “sneeze” of snow which left many of us hungry. Well i have some better news for you based on the climate side of things.
Delmarva usually fairs very well with El Nino winters in the snow department. Going back since the 1940s, the Delmarva region has seen many winters with above average snow. Even recently from 2010 and 2016. Not very cold winters at that but very snowy.
All in all right now, snow lovers should be a bit happier this year. (granted anything was better than last year) A overall super cold winter i highly doubt. Probably end up slight above average for temperatures wise, precipitation should well above average too which leads to better snow chances.
The Delaware State Police arrested 20-year-old, Brandon Thompson, of Delmar, Delaware, for threatening people with a hand grenade early Tuesday morning in Laurel.
On September 26, 2023, at approximately 1:12 a.m., troopers were called to Royal Farms located at 30983 Sussex Highway in Laurel for reports of a man pacing in front of the store with a suspicious object in his pocket. Officers from the Laurel Police Department located the suspect at a business across the street from the Royal Farms. The suspect, identified as Brandon Thompson, was taken into custody without incident. Troopers searched Thompson and recovered a grenade and a knife from his pockets.
During the investigation, troopers discovered Thompson had been at Royal Farms with a group of friends several hours earlier. At that time, a Royal Farms employee overheard Thompson threatening to blow himself and a woman in the group up. Employees were concerned for their safety when Thompson returned to the store hours later and began pacing out front with a suspicious object in his pocket. Through investigative means, troopers identified the woman from earlier as Thompson’s girlfriend and learned Thompson made several additional threats after leaving Royal Farms to blow up and stab his group of friends if they came looking for him.
Members of the Delaware State Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team responded to the scene and secured the grenade. The grenade was discovered to be a training grenade that had been modified, similar to a pipe bomb.
Thompson was taken to Troop 5, where he was charged with the following crimes:
Possession of a Destructive Weapon (Felony)
Terroristic Threatening – 3 counts
Disorderly Conduct
Thompson was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to the Sussex Correctional Institution on a $9,100 cash bond.
The Delaware State Police continues to investigate a Rehoboth Beach area crash that occurred earlier this month after 81-year-old Richard Bland of Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, died on September 19, 2023, from injuries sustained in the crash.
On September 2, 2023, at approximately 5:42 p.m., a silver 2010 Honda Cruiser was traveling in the left northbound lane of Coastal Highway just north of Camelot Drive. A black 2018 Jeep Cherokee was stopped in traffic in the left lane directly in front of the Honda. For unknown reasons, the Honda failed to stop and struck the rear of the Jeep. As a result of the impact, the operator of the Honda was partially ejected and came to rest in the middle of the left lane.
The operator of the Honda, identified as Richard Bland, was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where he was admitted for critical injuries. On September 19, 2023, he died from injuries sustained in the crash. The operator of the Jeep, a 55-year-old man from Randolph, New Jersey, was not injured.
Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed the incident to contact Master Corporal K. Argo by calling 302-703-3264. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
The Delaware State Police arrested 33-year-old William Timmons of Delmar, Delaware, on weapon charges following a pursuit that occurred yesterday evening in Delmar.
On September 25, 2023, at approximately 8:55 p.m., a trooper on patrol in the area of Susan Beach Road and White Deer Road in Delmar observed a red Chevrolet Monte Carlo operated by William Timmons. It was known to the trooper that Timmons was wanted for an earlier Troop 4 investigation, and a computer inquiry revealed he had an active capias. The trooper observed the Chevrolet fail to maintain its lane and initiated a traffic stop. Timmons disregarded the police signal, and the Chevrolet began fleeing at a high rate of speed. After a brief vehicle pursuit, the Chevrolet came to a stop in the driveway of a residence on the 6000 block of White Deer Road. Timmons disregarded multiple verbal commands by troopers to exit the car and continued to resist as he was ultimately taken into custody. Troopers searched the car and located drug paraphernalia and a bayonet on the rear seat.
Timmons is a convicted felon and is prohibited from possessing a deadly weapon. Timmons was taken to Troop 5 and charged with the following offenses:
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited (Felony)
Disregarding a Police Officer Signal (Felony)
Resisting Arrest
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Numerous traffic violations
Timmons was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $26,710 cash bond.
1 – Moderate coastal flooding and beach erosion are expected with Tuesday evening’s high tide in the Delaware counties of Sussex and Kent, and in the New Jersey counties of Cape May and Atlantic. For the remaining tidal area in Delaware and New Jersey, and for the tidal Delaware River and its tidal tributaries, widespread minor tidal flooding is anticipated at that time. Those areas are under a Coastal Flood Advisory. Spotty minor tidal flooding is possible through early Tuesday afternoon leading up to the time of the warnings and advisories, with lingering minor tidal flooding possible from late Tuesday night into Wednesday.
2 – A northeast wind may gust as high as 40 mph at times into Tuesday along the immediate coasts of New Jersey and Delaware.
3 – Gale Warnings are in effect for the Atlantic coastal waters of New Jersey and Delaware into Tuesday. Waves are expected to build to 8 to 12 feet.
4 – An enhanced rip current risk and dangerous surf conditions are likely through much of the week.
…COASTAL FLOOD WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT…
* WHAT…One to two feet of inundation above ground level expected in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways.
* WHERE…Kent and Inland Sussex.
* WHEN…From 4 PM this afternoon to midnight EDT tonight.
* IMPACTS…At this level, widespread roadway flooding occurs in coastal and bayside communities and along inland tidal waterways. Many roads become impassable. Some damage to vulnerable structures may begin to occur.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS…Spotty minor tidal flooding may occur through early Tuesday afternoon, with additional lingering minor tidal flooding possible from late Tuesday night into Wednesday.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS… Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property. If travel is required, do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. && Time of high total tides are approximate to the nearest hour.
Murderkill River at Bowers Beach MLLW Categories – Minor 6.6 ft, Moderate 7.6 ft, Major 8.6 ft MHHW Categories – Minor 0.9 ft, Moderate 1.9 ft, Major 2.9 ft Total Total Departure Day/Time Tide Tide from Norm Flood ft MLLW ft MHHW ft Impact ——– ——— ——— ——— ——– 26/07 AM 6.7 1.0 2.3 Minor 26/08 PM 8.3 2.6 2.6 Moderate 27/08 AM 6.8 1.1 2.0 Minor 27/08 PM 7.3 1.6 1.6 Minor 28/09 AM 6.6 0.9 1.3 Minor 28/09 PM 7.1 1.4 1.4 Minor Delaware Bay at Lewes MLLW Categories – Minor 6.0 ft, Moderate 7.0 ft, Major 8.0 ft MHHW Categories – Minor 1.3 ft, Moderate 2.3 ft, Major 3.3 ft Total Total Departure Day/Time Tide Tide from Norm Flood ft MLLW ft MHHW ft Impact ——– ——— ——— ——— ——– 26/06 AM 6.3 1.7 2.2 Minor 26/07 PM 7.6 3.0 2.4 Moderate 27/07 AM 6.3 1.7 1.8 Minor 27/08 PM 6.6 2.0 1.3 Minor 28/08 AM 5.9 1.2 1.0 None 28/09 PM 6.4 1.8 1.1 Minor
Nineteen different programs and initiatives spread out across the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control are scheduled to provide outreach, education and activities during the University of Delaware’s annual Coast Day event set for Sunday, Oct. 1.
Coast Day highlights how UD scientists, staff and students are gaining a deeper understanding of ocean environments and helping to serve coastal communities. Coast Day will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the University of Delaware’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus, 700 Pilottown Road, Lewes.
More than 30 different vendors will have exhibits at the event, and another 30 vendors will feature ocean- and coastal-related research.
DNREC’s tent will feature a mixture of informational brochures, educational materials, giveaways and activities. In addition, DNREC’s Coastal Section will announce the winners of the Delaware Ocean and Bay Photo Contest at 11:30 a.m. in the DNREC tent.
“Our Department interacts with Delawareans every day on a range of natural resources and environmental matters, from hunting and fishing licenses to clean water and air, climate change concerns, and our outstanding Delaware state parks system,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Coast Day provides us an opportunity to showcase the work we are doing across all our divisions to ensure the stewardship for and sustainability of our state’s resources now and for future generations.”
DNREC divisions scheduled to participate in Coast Day and their areas of expertise include:
Air Quality
Air Quality Index
Climate, Coastal and Energy
Tree for Every Delawarean Initiative
Climate Action Plan
Clean Transportation – Information on clean transportation initiatives, giveaways, educational materials and activities for children and adults.
Ocean Photo Contest
Delaware Ocean and Bay Plan
Energy Programs
Energy Policy/ Governor’s Energy Advisory Council
DNREC Division of Parks and Recreation
Delaware State Parks, including Cape Henlopen State Park
You don’t have to pay for shipping, and you’ll never be asked for a credit card or bank account number. You only need to give a name and shipping address. If you’d like an email confirmation and delivery updates from the U.S. Postal Service, you can submit your email address. Anyone who asks for more information than that is a scammer. So, remember:
Only go to COVIDtests.gov to order your free test kits from the federal government. When you click to order, you’ll be redirected to special.usps.com/testkits. If you’re following a link from a news story, double-check the URL that shows in your browser’s address bar.
No one will call, text, or email you from the federal government to ask for your information to “help” you order free kits. Don’t give out your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number. Do not respond. Instead, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Delaware State Police arrested 35-year-old Ramone Shy of Wilmington, Delaware, for multiple thefts from vehicles Saturday morning in the Newark area.
On September 23, 2023, troopers responded to multiple Newark area hotels for reports of vehicle break-ins with property stolen. The investigation revealed that during the overnight hours of September 22, 2023, and September 23, 2023, an unknown suspect broke into multiple vehicles in the parking lots of the following Newark hotels: Four Points by Sheraton located at 56 S. Old Baltimore Pike, Hilton Inn located at 100 Continental Drive, Town Place Suites located at 410 Eagle Run Road, and Somerford House located at 510 S. Harmony Road. The suspect gained access into the locked vehicles by shattering a window, and then stole property from within to include cash, payment cards, and electronics. Troopers discovered the suspect was operating a gray Chevrolet Traverse with dark window tint after he was captured on surveillance footage using one of the victim’s payment cards at a Newark ShopRite. Through investigative means, troopers located the occupied Chevrolet parked at a Newark Wawa. A vehicle stop was initiated, and the suspect fled on foot through the parking lot. The suspect, identified as Ramone Shy, was taken into custody after a brief foot pursuit.
Shy was transported to Troop 2, where he was charged with the following crimes:
Theft Under $1500 where a Victim is 62 Years of Age or Older (Felony)
Theft Greater than $1500 (Felony)
Theft Under $1500 – 4 counts
Unlawful Use of Payment Card
Resisting Arrest
Criminal Mischief – 8 counts
Shy was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $14,000 secured bond.
Delaware State Police have identified 45-year-old Cindy Fisher of Sudlersville, Maryland, as the woman who died yesterday from injuries sustained in a fatal crash that occurred Friday night in Hartly.
On September 22, 2023, at approximately 11:38 p.m., a silver 2018 Chevrolet Malibu was traveling eastbound on Arthursville Road east of Gunter Road in Hartly. For unknown reasons, the Malibu traveled off the roadway, and in doing so, struck a sign. The Malibu continued traveling in an easterly direction and struck an embankment, which caused it to overturn. The Malibu came to rest right side up south of the roadway, and a short time later, became engulfed in flames. The two occupants of the Malibu had exited the vehicle before it caught on fire.
The operator of the Malibu, identified as Fisher, was taken by ambulance to an area hospital, where she was admitted for critical injuries. On September 23, 2023, she died from injuries sustained in the crash. The passenger of the Malibu, a 33-year-old man from Hartly, Delaware, was taken by ambulance to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues investigating this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this crash to contact Master Corporal J. Lane by calling (302) 698-8457. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Delaware State Police arrested 20-year-old Angel Velazquez-Bedolla of Wilmington, Delaware, on multiple gun offenses following a traffic stop that occurred early this morning in Wilmington.
On September 25, 2023, at approximately 2:06 a.m., a trooper on patrol observed a blue Toyota Corolla commit multiple traffic violations as it was traveling northbound on South Market Street in the area of Rogers Road in Wilmington. A traffic stop was initiated, and the trooper made contact with the driver and sole occupant, identified as Angel Velazquez-Bedolla. A computer inquiry of Velazquez-Bedolla revealed he was wanted for an active capias, and he was taken into custody without incident. A consensual search of the Toyota led to the recovery of a loaded firearm from the glovebox. Velazquez-Bedolla is a person prohibited from owning a firearm or ammunition due to his age.
Velazquez-Bedolla was taken to Troop 2, where he was charged with the following crimes:
Possession of an Unfinished Firearm with no Serial Number (Felony)
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Under 18 (Felony)
Possession of Ammunition by a Person Under 18 (Felony)
Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (Felony)
Traffic Offenses
Velazquez-Bedolla was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 11 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on a $60,000 cash bond.
The Delaware State Police have identified 20-year-old Dereck Wong of Georgetown, Delaware, as the man who died in a fatal crash that occurred Sunday morning in Gumboro.
The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues investigating this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this crash to contact Senior Corporal J. Smith by calling (302) 703-3267. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
The Dover Police Department has arrested Scott Ottinger, 53, of Clayton, for three burglaries following an incident Friday evening. Dover Police Department was called to Cinnabon, 1051 North DuPont Highway, for the report of a suspect that had broken into the business. Officers responded and upon arrival, Ottinger was taken into custody without incident. Officers were able to speak with employees of the business who advised that on September 7th, 2023, a suspect broke into the business and stole money. Surveillance from the business confirmed that Ottinger was responsible for the burglary on the 7th as well. Further investigation led Detectives to determine that Ottinger was also responsible for the burglary at the County Eatery that occurred on September 20th.
Ottinger was transported to Dover Police Department where he was processed and arraigned.
Ottinger was released on $7,700 unsecured bond on the following charges: -Burglary Third Degree (3x) -Theft Under $1,500 (3x) -Criminal Mischief (2x)
On September 16, 2023, at about 0614 hours, Newark Police responded to the 900-block of Pickett Lane for a reported disturbance.
Upon arrival, a resident advised that they had been threatened by a neighbor who pointed a handgun at them. An investigation determined that another area resident, later identified as Mark Tate, 40, of Newark, went to the victim’s residence accusing the victim’s acquaintance of trespassing on Tate’s property. Tate entered the victim’s property and demanded that the victim’s acquaintance come outside, while pointing a handgun at the victim. Tate left the scene before police arrival.
Shortly thereafter, Tate was contacted at his residence and taken into custody without incident. Two handguns were seized by police from his residence.
Tate was transported to Newark Police headquarters where he was charged with Aggravated Menacing and Criminal Trespass Third Degree. Tate appeared before Justice of the Peace Court #11 by video and was released after posting $3,001 secured bail.
A big tone shift with the overnight model runs shows full speed ahead of a tropical system moving in from the Carolinas up into the Chesapeake Bay region. Which is the worst case scenario for any track of a storm system here on the shore.
Many of the high resolution model guidance showing heavy rain beginning to move in starting in the evening hours on Friday from south to north as the winds start to increase from the east. Winds could be gusting as high as 50 mph along the coastlines with 40-50 for the inland locations. Along with the major waves coming ashore of 10-20 feet. Combination of a high tide cycle, heavy rainfall, strong long fetched onshore winds, coastal flooding is going to be a big problem.
Early indications from a few days ago had flooding in the minor to borderline moderate levels. Well with high confidence now with the storm track and overall strength, moderate to potential major levels of coastal flooding exist for all water ways along the Atlantic, Delaware Bay, and of course the inland bays in Sussex, Kent and Worcester counties. Inundation of 1-3 feet are on the table on Saturday.
Rainfall with tropical moisture is surely going to be a issue for areas along coastal Delaware down the Bay Bridge Tunnel. across the mid-shore we will average of 2 to 5 inches of rain. Highest for those farthest south and east.
Now my least favorite topic, tornadoes. If we do have a tropical system on our hands rather than a hybrid or extra tropical cyclone, being on the right side of it is never a good thing. Slight curvature in the hodographs suggest we do have some turning in the atmosphere. Whether we have the little bit of instability remains to be in question. Tornadoes are a possibility but not with very high confidence right now.
Prepare for a potentially major storm system heading into this weekend.
Delaware State Police are seeking the public’s assistance locating Dashaun Truitt, 26, of Lincoln, Delaware.
On September 19, 2023, at approximately 5:20 p.m., Delaware State Police were called to the 9000 block of Tharp Road, Seaford, Delaware for a stolen motor vehicle report. The 62-year-old victim of Seaford, Delaware, told the arriving trooper that his friend saw and followed the stolen red 1990 Jeep Wrangler in the area of Hastings Farm Road and Concord Pond Road. The trooper located the Jeep traveling southbound on Concord Pond Road. The Jeep accelerated and began to travel at a high rate of speed as the trooper tried to catch up to it with the emergency equipment activated. The operator, identified as Dashaun Truitt, struck a tombstone before striking a tree, disabling the Jeep. He fled from the stolen vehicle in the area of Henry Drive and Church Road, Seaford, Delaware. Truitt has an active warrant for the following crimes:
Theft of a Motor Vehicle (Felony)
Criminal Mischief More than $5000 (Felony)
Disregard a Police Officer Signal (Felony)
Resisting Arrest
Damaging a Burial Place
Criminal Mischief Less than $1000
Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree
Numerous Traffic Offenses
Attempts to find Truitt have been unsuccessful. He is described as a black male, approximately 6’1”, and approximately 265 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair.
Anyone with information regarding Truitt’s whereabouts is asked to contact Trooper First Class B. Pellegrini by calling (302) 337-1090. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at [email protected]
Delaware State Police are seeking the public’s assistance locating Dashaun Truitt, 26, of Lincoln, Delaware.
On September 19, 2023, at approximately 5:20 p.m., Delaware State Police were called to the 9000 block of Tharp Road, Seaford, Delaware for a stolen motor vehicle report. The 62-year-old victim of Seaford, Delaware, told the arriving trooper that his friend saw and followed the stolen red 1990 Jeep Wrangler in the area of Hastings Farm Road and Concord Pond Road. The trooper located the Jeep traveling southbound on Concord Pond Road. The Jeep accelerated and began to travel at a high rate of speed as the trooper tried to catch up to it with the emergency equipment activated. The operator, identified as Dashaun Truitt, struck a tombstone before striking a tree, disabling the Jeep. He fled from the stolen vehicle in the area of Henry Drive and Church Road, Seaford, Delaware. Truitt has an active warrant for the following crimes:
Theft of a Motor Vehicle (Felony)
Criminal Mischief More than $5000 (Felony)
Disregard a Police Officer Signal (Felony)
Resisting Arrest
Damaging a Burial Place
Criminal Mischief Less than $1000
Criminal Trespass 3rd Degree
Numerous Traffic Offenses
Attempts to find Truitt have been unsuccessful. He is described as a black male, approximately 6’1”, and approximately 265 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair.
Anyone with information regarding Truitt’s whereabouts is asked to contact Trooper First Class B. Pellegrini by calling (302) 337-1090. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
The Delaware State Police Sex Offender Apprehension and Registration Unit (S.O.A.R.) is currently looking for the following wanted sex offenders after they either failed to register or re-register at their current address. If anyone knows the location of these individuals, they are asked to call 302-672-5306. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
The Federal Trade Commission has begun notifying people who may be entitled to compensation stemming from a settlement finalized in March 2023 with Epic Games over allegations that the Fortnite video game maker used dark patterns and other deceptive practices to trick players into making unwanted purchases.
In a complaint first announced in December 2022, the FTC alleged that Epic games deployed a variety of design tricks aimed at getting consumers of all ages to make unintended in-game purchases. The company also made it easy for children to rack up charges without parental consent and locked the accounts of consumers who disputed unauthorized charges with their credit card companies.
The money provided as part of the $245 million settlement with Epic Games will go to provide refunds to consumers. The FTC has begun the process of notifying more than 37 million people by email that they may be eligible for compensation, a process that will take one month to complete. Consumers will have until January 17, 2024 to submit a claim.
Information about how to file a claim can be found at www.ftc.gov/Fortnite. Consumers who have questions about the claims process can contact the administrator by phone at 1-833-915-0880 or by email at [email protected].
The Commission’s interactive dashboards for refund data provide a state-by-state breakdown of refunds in FTC cases. In 2022, Commission actions led to more than $392 million in refunds to consumers across the country.
Confidence continues to increase for some sort of sub-tropical in nature storm system to develop along a stalled out frontal boundary off the coast of Florida and Georgia. With a strong area of high pressure it place towards New England, this will allow this system to intensify and move in towards the Carolina coastlines late Friday through Sunday.
Overspreading heavy rain, gusty winds, and coastal flooding are all expected this weekend. Especially on Saturday when the conditions are expected to be the worst out of this storm. Whether this storm will be tropical in nature or not, impacts are going to be felt like a stronger nor’easter we would see in the winter months.
Rain will begin to overspread the region beginning during the overnight hours on Friday and picking up in intensity on Saturday. Rain will be heavy at times with many operational and ensemble mean totals of 2-5 inches are expected over the weekend. With an area of high pressure to north, a strong pressure gradient will setup with constant strong onshore winds from the east and northeast. Sustained winds of 20-30 MPH with gusts 40-50 mph at times, will help generate waves offshore 10-20 feet. Near the coast, we are looking at swells generating 7-12 feet.
With some of the the tide gauge forecasts as of now showing areas along the Atlantic Ocean and Inland Bay regions for Minor to even Moderate coastal flooding during the high tide cycle Saturday afternoon. I worry for the Inland Bays a lot more with all the water being forced with no where to go given how big the swells will be with the strong long fetched onshore winds.
It’s pretty definitive at this point that we have a coastal storm on the way, it’s just a matter of how much rain will be associated with this system, and if it happens to be tropical or not. Or even a combination of both being a hybrid sub-tropical system. More details will be provided as the week goes on.
The Delaware State Police arrested 61-year-old Norman St. Sauveur Jr. of Frederica, Delaware for felony DUI on Monday morning.
On September 18, 2023, at approximately 8:32 a.m., a motorist, while following a red minivan, reported that it struck several curbs and was all over the roadway in the area of North Main Street and East Walnut Street, Magnolia, Delaware. During the check of the area, the trooper observed a red 2008 Dodge Caravan crossing over the fog line while traveling northbound on South State Street, Magnolia, Delaware. The trooper conducted the traffic stop and the vehicle pulled into the Delaware State Police parking lot. While the trooper was behind it, the minivan attempted to make a U-turn and drove up on the curb. The trooper contacted the driver, identified as Norman St. Sauveur Jr., and observed signs of impairment. Following field sobriety tests, St. Sauveur Jr. was arrested for DUI. A computer check showed that St. Sauveur Jr. has two prior DUI convictions.
While in custody at Troop 3, St. Sauveur Jr. was charged with the following crimes:
3rd Offense DUI (Felony)
Traffic offenses
St. Sauveur Jr. was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and was release on $5060 unsecured bond.
With the potential hybrid storm coming this weekend, not only heavy rain and gusty onshore winds are a problem, these are going to be some big waves. Moderate coastal flooding is on the table for Saturday. With onshore winds of 40-50 mph wind gusts generating waves 10-20 feet offshore. That’s going to be driving water hard to the coastal locations. Inland bays will be the bigger issues where water will not have any place to go.
We still have days to go to see the full extent of details but the consistency in model guidance is very good with this one so far. Whether this will be a tropical system or a nor’easter, this will be bringing heavy rains, gusty winds, and coastal flooding.
The Delaware State Fire Marshal’s office is investigating this morning’s house fire in Georgetown, Delaware. One occupant has died, and another occupant is in critical condition.
The Georgetown Fire Company responded to the 200 block of East Market Street shortly before 8:30 am for a report of a house on fire. Firefighters encountered a two-story home engulfed in flames and a bystander reporting two people trapped inside the burning home. Firefighters rescued an 87-year-old victim and an 18-month-old victim from the burning home.
The victims were rushed to the Beebe Hospital. The 87-year-old victim was pronounced deceased in the emergency room. The 18-month-old victim was flown to the Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware and is listed in critical condition.
State fire investigators and detectives from the Georgetown Police Department are conducting the investigation into the circumstances of this fire. Heavy fire damage was estimated at $300,000. This fire remains under investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this fire including any cell phone or home security video footage is asked to contact the State Fire Marshal’s – Sussex Division at (302) 856-5600.
The Investor Protection Unit of the Delaware Department of Justice has issued a Summary Order to Cease and Desist against respondents linked to a cryptocurrency scam known as the “pig butchering scam.” A twist on the typical romance scam, the pig butchering scam is a long-term fraud in which victims are groomed over time to make investments using cryptocurrency, only to find that what they thought was a safe investment was a scam. It is estimated that this international scam involves thousands of victims across the country with losses into the billions of dollars.
The Investor Protection Unit received a complaint from a senior who had invested a significant chunk of his retirement savings in what turned out to be a pig butchering scam. It began when he was contacted online by an unknown person who urged him to purchase cryptocurrency to make investments. At the behest of the scammer, the victim initially invested approximately $275,000 of his retirement funds in cryptocurrency using a website, bybit.us, which tricks users into thinking it is legitimate by mimicking the website of a large cryptocurrency exchange, Bybit.com. Ultimately, the victim was told he had to pay significant fees before being able to withdraw his crypto; he took out a loan and paid the fees, but was still unable to make a withdrawal.
Working with Inca Digital, a data analytics company, the Unit traced the victim’s cryptocurrency to a number of different virtual wallets on the crypto exchange OKX.com. The Order prohibits the persons and entities affiliated with the wallets from withdrawing or otherwise moving assets owned by the victim. Although OKX, the exchange holding the wallets, is named in the Order, it is not accused of any wrongdoing; rather, in its role as the exchange, it is prohibited from permitting parties to move the fraudulently-obtained crypto, thus essentially freezing the accounts holding assets belonging to the Delaware victims.
“High-tech con artists have adapted traditional romance scam methods to take advantage of the hype surrounding cryptocurrency,” AG Jennings said. “The use of crypto to commit fraud, while increasingly common, presents new challenges for law enforcement. Today’s order takes a first step toward protecting Delaware investors from the pig butchering scam by freezing funds belonging to the victim.”
This is the second time the Unit has issued an order intended to freeze cryptocurrency lost by victims of the pig butchering scam. Unfortunately, the scam continues to proliferate, impacting victims in Delaware with increasing frequency.
The Investor Protection Unit offers the following tips for investors:
1. Be wary of someone you don’t know contacting you through any virtual platform looking to engage in frequent conversations.
2. Don’t get drawn into online conversations with unknown people who claim to have made a lot of money in cryptocurrency.
3. Remember that there is no such thing as a risk-free investment. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Deputy Attorney General Lindsay Nasshorn, Investor Protection Director Jillian Lazar, and Special Investigator Bill Boileau are leading this matter for the DOJ.
Contact: Dover Police Department Public Information Officer Master Corporal Ryan Schmid Email: [email protected]
Narrative: The Dover Police Department has arrested Isaac Jones-Riddick, 20, of Magnolia, on drug dealing and firearm charges following a traffic stop Friday afternoon. The Drugs, Vice and Organized Crime Unit and Street Crimes Unit were conducting a firearm investigation related to Jones-Riddick. Members of the Street Crimes Unit stopped him in a vehicle in the area of South DuPont Highway and Lotus Drive at approximately 2:15 p.m. Friday afternoon, and he was taken into custody without incident. A search of the vehicle revealed a loaded 9mm Ruger handgun, a loaded Glock 9mm, 62.4 grams of marijuana and $1,159. Jones-Riddick was transported to Dover Police Department where he was processed and arraigned.
Jones-Riddick was committed to SCI on $100,400 cash bail on the following charges: -Possessing of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony -Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited -Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance -Carrying a Concealed Deadly Weapon (2x) -Possession of Marijuana -Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
The Delaware State Police arrested Anthony Morris, 21, Christiana Sturgis, 18, and a 17-year-old male, all of Frankford, Delaware, for multiple drug and gun charges following a search warrant at a residence in Frankford on Friday morning.
On September 15, 2023, at approximately 6:00 a.m., Sussex Special Investigations Detectives with the assistance of the Delaware State Police Special Operations Response Team, Troop 4 Patrol, and Probation and Parole executed a search warrant at a residence on the 34800 block of North Branchwood Place in Frankford. The search warrant was obtained following a multiple-month-long drug investigation of Anthony Morris, who was suspected of the large-scale distribution of narcotics. The home was occupied by five adults and two juveniles. Morris and the 17-year-old male were taken into custody without incident. Christiana Sturgis was taken into custody without injury after she resisted arrest.
A search of the home led to the discovery of the following items:
Approximately 4.88 grams of crack cocaine
Approximately 2.81 grams of cocaine
Approximately 38.87 grams of marijuana
Approximately 551 bags containing approximately 3.875 grams of heroin
Approximately $6,377 in suspected drug dealing proceeds
Four firearms
Numerous rounds of ammunition
Various paraphernalia to include digital scales and distribution/packaging materials
All three suspects are prohibited from possessing firearms and ammunition. They were taken to Troop 4, where they were charged with the following crimes:
Anthony Morris:
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony) – 2 counts
Unlawful to Operate or Attempt to Operate a Clandestine Laboratory (Felony)
Possession of a Firearm or Ammunition by a Person Prohibited (Felony) – 3 counts
Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony)
Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)
Endangering the Welfare of a Child
Possession of a Controlled or Counterfeit Substance
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Morris was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $69,000 cash bond.
Christiana Sturgis:
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony) – 2 counts
Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
Unlawful to Operate or Attempt to Operate a Clandestine Laboratory (Felony)
Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony) – 3 counts
Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited Who Also Possesses a Controlled Substance (Felony) – 2 counts
Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)
Endangering the Welfare of a Child
Resisting Arrest
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Sturgis was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on an $82,500 cash bond.
17-year-old male:
Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (Felony) – 2 counts
Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
Unlawful to Operate or Attempt to Operate a Clandestine Laboratory (Felony)
Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony) – 3 counts
Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited Who Also Possesses a Controlled Substance (Felony) – 2 counts
Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)
Endangering the Welfare of a Child
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
The juvenile was arraigned by the Sussex County Family Court and committed to Stevenson House Detention Center on a $40,200 secured bond.
Recovering from Atlantic Storm Lee? Keep Scammers at bay.
Atlantic storm Lee brought near-hurricane strength winds and torrential rains to many New England residents — many already affected by wildfires and severe flooding this summer. When you’re doing your best to recover from the destruction caused by back-to-back natural disasters, the words “I can help” may sound like music to your ears. And that’s exactly what scammers count on to try to steal your money or personal information. So how do you weed out the scammers and get real help?
Scammers might knock on your door and offer help to remove a fallen tree, clean up services for water damage, or help to apply for government assistance. But even if the details change, there are steps to protect yourself from the most common disaster recovery scams.
Spot unlicensed contractors and scammers promising immediate clean-up or repairs. They’re often the ones who quote outrageous prices, demand payment up front, or lack the skills needed. If they won’t give you copies of their license, insurance, and a contract in writing, don’t hire them.
Spot FEMA impersonators. If someone wants money to help you qualify for FEMA funds, it’s a scam. Download the FEMA Mobile App to get more information and alerts.
Never pay by wire transfer, gift card, payment app, or with cryptocurrencyor cash. Scammers want to get your money in a hurry, and in ways it’s harder for you to get it back.And never make the final payment until the work is done and you’re satisfied.
Updated: [10:15 AM] NWS Mount Holly meteorologists have confirmed that a tornado occurred yesterday afternoon in Sussex County, Delaware near Dagsboro. Complete details will be available later this afternoon. #dewx
Damage looking to be observed as a weak EF-0 Tornado with winds of 80 mph on Adams Road in Dagsboro, DE
Out of surprise to many of residents living east of Dagsboro Delaware yesterday when a quick touchdown of a tornado occurred between Bunting and Piney Neck Road. With the hardest hit area being Adams road. Severe weather wasn’t on the ballet for yesterday but these freak events do happen from time to time when it comes to the microscale details.
Video From Kelly Phillips
A lot of key features played a role when you dig into the microscale levels. Overall weather synoptic pattern did not support the formation of tornadoes overall but the two colliding outflow boundaries did the trick. Similar to what happened several years ago in Ocean City Maryland when a EF-0 rolled through the city. These two boundaries interacting help creates vertical wind shear which is crucial for tornadogensis. When the storm matured with the very saturated surface with high dew points and extremely low cloud bases (LCL’s) was enough the get the mesocyclone spinning and tighten up down near the surface before dissipating a few minutes later. This tornado was only on the ground for about 5 minutes or less with a damage width of only about 100 yards.
Big thank you to everyone who sent us photos, videos and the Sussex County EOC for helping with the survey efforts.
The Delaware State Police have arrested 44-year-old Travis Driggus of Dover, Delaware for aggravated menacing and other charges after he caused a disturbance at Doverama Bowling in Dover on Saturday night.
On July 8, 2023, at approximately 11:47 p.m., troopers responded to Doverama Bowling at 1600 S. Governors Avenue for a report of a disorderly man chasing customers in the parking lot with a large razorblade. Troopers found the man, identified as Travis Driggus, in the parking lot and attempted to speak to him, but he began to flee from the area on foot. Troopers and officers from the Dover Police Department were able to detain Driggus in the front yard of a nearby residence, but were unable to find the razor. Driggus appeared to be intoxicated and was uncooperative with the investigation. No Doverama patrons were injured.
Driggus was taken to Troop 3 and charged with the following crimes:
Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
Aggravated Menacing (Felony)
Resisting Arrest
Breach of Release
Criminal Trespass Second Degree
Driggus was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $28,100 secured bond.
In a comment to North Carolina House Health Committee members, the Federal Trade Commission staff opposed a bill pending before the state legislature attempting to prevent antitrust authorities from challenging the University of North Carolina Health Care System for engaging in anticompetitive mergers and conduct.
According to the staff comment, North Carolina Senate Bill 743 would authorize the kinds of acquisitions, market allocation, information sharing, and joint contract negotiations that reduce competition among healthcare providers and lead to patient harm in the form of higher healthcare costs, lower quality, reduced innovation, and reduced access to care, as well as depressed wages for hospital employees.
Senate Bill 743 (S-743) was unanimously passed by the North Carolina State Senate on May 1, 2023 and is now pending before the North Carolina House. It includes a provision purporting to give UNC Health (as well as any private and public entities with which it collaborates) a defense from antitrust enforcement for otherwise unlawful mergers or coordinated activity under the state action legal doctrine. Staff takes no position on whether S-743 satisfies state action requirements, noting in the comment that this would require further investigation.
The FTC has raised concerns about similar legislation in other states that purport to confer broad antitrust defenses to public health entities. In the case of S-743, UNC Health does not need state action protection to engage in beneficial collaborative activities because antitrust laws already permit competitively neutral collaborations among healthcare providers that benefit patients, the comment points out.
The FTC is concerned about the increasing use of state legislation to exempt hospital consolidation that harms patients and workers from law enforcement. The FTC’s recent policy work in this area suggests many reasons to be skeptical that state action protection for such arrangements deliver the benefits promised by the hospitals.
The Commission vote to submit the staff comment to the North Carolina House representatives was 3-0.
The Dover Police Department has arrested Javon Williams, 19, of Magnolia, DE, on Robbery and related charges following an incident at Best Buy Thursday afternoon. The investigation began at 4:22 p.m. when Dover Police Department received a call for an armed robbery that had just occurred at Best Buy. Officers responded to the scene and contacted the victim, an employee of the business, who advised the suspect entered the store, displayed a handgun, and demanded they turn over an iPhone. The employee complied and turned over the iPhone and other property. The suspect dropped the iPhone while running from the scene and fled in a silver Ford Fusion with a Delaware registration. The information was relayed to Officers and the vehicle was located traveling southbound on North Dupont Highway in the area of East Division Street. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to stop and continued southbound to River Road where it collided with another vehicle. Williams exited the vehicle and fled on foot toward the Relax Inn and surrendered when Dover Police K-9 Asher and his handler arrived on scene.
Detectives located clothing and property from the robbery inside of Williams’ vehicle following the execution of a search warrant.
Williams was transported to Dover Police where he was processed and arraigned.
Williams was committed to SCI on $73,100 secured bail on the following charges: -Robbery in the First Degree -Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony -Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited -Aggravated Menacing -Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony -Disregarding a Police Officer’s Sigal -Resisting Arrest -Failure to Have Insurance Identification in Possession
The Delaware State Police have identified a second victim that died in the fatal crash that occurred on July 2, 2023 in Felton.
The driver of the Cadillac, 26-year-old Rawan Saleh of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, died yesterday morning at an area hospital after being seriously injured in the collision.
The Delaware State Police Troop 3 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this collision to please contact Master Corporal J. Lane by calling 302-698-8457. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control announced that the use of a gaff to handle any striped bass caught by recreational anglers is prohibited, effective immediately, to ensure Delaware’s compliance with the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Amendment 7 to the Atlantic Striped Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP).
The FMP cited the ban on gaff use as one of a suite of required management measures intended to reduce the mortality of recreationally-caught striped bass. Recent ASMFC striped bass population assessments have shown that recreational release mortality is currently the largest source of mortality for the overfished striped bass population. The ASMFC’s gaff ban is seen as aiding the recovery of striper stocks by helping reduce recreational release mortality of fish that could go on to spawn after they were caught and released by anglers.
Delaware’s gaff prohibition regulation can be found on the DNREC regulatory orders webpage. For more information, anglers may call the DNREC Fisheries Section at 739-9914.
Delaware State Police Troop 7 is issuing a Gold Alert for 40-year-old Jonathan Murray of Lewes, Delaware. Jonathan was last known to be in the Milford area on July 6, 2023. Attempts to contact or locate Jonathan have been unsuccessful, and there is a concern for his safety and well-being.
Jonathan is described as a white male, approximately 6’00” tall, weighing approximately 200 pounds, with brown hair and a beard. He was last known to be wearing a hat, black/neon green shirt, blue shorts, and camouflage Croc shoes.
Anyone with information regarding Jonathan Murray’s whereabouts is asked to contact Delaware State Police Troop 7 by calling 302-644-5020, or by dialing 9-1-1. Information may also be provided by contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
The Delaware State Police have arrested 27-year-old Alan Alcantara of Bridgeville, Delaware for the murder of 52-year-old Troy Scofield of Bridgeville, Delaware.
On June 9, 2023, at approximately 11:14 p.m., the Bridgeville Police Department responded to 309 Cedar Street for a report of a missing person. Officers arrived and saw that a violent confrontation had occurred in the home, and resident Troy Scofield could not be located. The caller had seen fellow housemate Alan Alcantara leaving the residence in a blue 2006 Honda Civic before the police were contacted.
The Delaware State Police Homicide Unit assumed the investigation and linked Alcantara to Scofield’s disappearance and apparent homicide. On June 10, 2023, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Alcantara, charging him with Murder First Degree.
On June 11, 2023, at approximately 3:30 p.m., detectives located Alcantara’s blue Honda Civic parked on a commercial property on the 20500 block of Dupont Boulevard in Georgetown. Detectives searched the car and found Scofield’s body in the trunk.
On June 13, 2023, at approximately 3:03 a.m., officers from the Dover Police Department responded to the 1000 block of South Little Creek Road for a report of a suspicious person. Officers arrived and found Alcantara hiding in a shed. He was taken into custody without incident.
Alcantara was taken to Troop 3, where he was charged with Murder First Degree. Alcantara was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $1,000,000 cash bond.
This case is still being investigated by the Homicide Unit. Investigators are asking anyone with information to contact Detective D. Grassi by calling 302-365-8441 or by e-mailing [email protected]. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) has issued warnings of poor air quality in Delaware. Air quality that is unhealthy or very unhealthy is predicted Wednesday, June 7 and Thursday, June 8 by DNREC, and the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS), Division of Public Health (DPH) has advised all individuals to limit prolonged or heavy physical activity and time spent outdoors and to stay indoors, preferably in a space with filtered air.
Wildfires in eastern Canada are emitting particulate matter into the atmosphere, affecting air quality throughout the northeast, including in Delaware. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides an Air Quality Index with color codes to inform the public about conditions and how to avoid health effects associated with poor air quality. DNREC has declared a Code Red Action Day for particulate matter for Wednesday, June 7 and Thursday, June 8. These alerts warn of unhealthy particle pollution levels. DNREC also warned effects from the smoke may at times cause purple conditions, meaning the air quality is very unhealthy.
Particle pollution can affect anyone, but it bothers some people more than others. DNREC and DPH have provided the following guidance:
Avoid strenuous outdoor activity. While people with respiratory conditions should stay inside, make sure they have their inhaler or medicine.
Wear a properly fitted (fit tested) N95 for those who must go outside for long periods of time. Typical masks such as cloth, surgical, or KN95 will not provide adequate protection from poor air quality from particulate matter. The best protection is to remain indoors in a cool and clean environment.
Avoid using anything that burns, such as wood fireplaces, gas logs, gas stoves and even candles.
Avoid spraying aerosol products.
Avoid frying or broiling meat.
Avoid smoking cigarettes.
Don’t vacuum while air quality remains unhealthy or very unhealthy since it stirs up particles already inside your home.
Reduce the amount of smoke and particulate matter in your vehicles by keeping the windows and vents closed, and, if available, operating the air conditioning in “recirculate” mode.
Continue to check the air quality for the coming days and sign up for air quality alerts at de.gov/aqi.
Access real-time data and interactive maps on current conditions at airnow.gov.
DPH warns that certain populations—including young children, older adults, and those with lung conditions—could be more significantly impacted. While canceling outdoor events is not necessary, it is advisable to relocate indoors when possible. Individuals should make health decisions in consultation with their medical professionals and based on their own considerations.
Yesterday the Delaware State Police arrested 51-year-old James Crow of Dover, Delaware and 36-year-old Quinton Perry of Bridgeville, Delaware on drug dealing charges after concluding an extended narcotics investigation.
In December 2022, detectives from the Kent County Governor’s Task Force began investigating James Crow, who was suspected of dealing drugs in Kent County. On May 23, 2023, at approximately 7:27 p.m., detectives contacted Crow as he met with his drug supplier Quinton Perry. Both Crow and Perry were taken into custody without incident.
Detectives executed search warrants on Crow’s residence and his Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck and recovered the following evidence:
1 sawed-off shotgun
1 shotgun that had been reported stolen by Randolph County Sheriff’s Office in North Carolina
Approximately 15.26 grams of methamphetamine
Approximately 6.54 grams of cocaine
Approximately 201 small baggies containing approximately 1.407 grams of suspected heroin
13 doses of Oxycodone
4 doses of Suboxone
6 prescription-only pills
Numerous items of drug paraphernalia
Over $1,000 in suspected drug dealing proceeds
Crow is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms.
Detectives also executed a search warrant on Perry’s Hyundai Sonata and found over $2,300 in suspected drug dealing proceeds.
Both Crow and Perry were taken to Troop 3 and charged with the following crimes:
James Crow:
Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony) – 2 counts
Possession of a Deadly Weapon While Possessing a Controlled Substance (Felony) – 2 counts
Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity (Felony) – 2 counts
Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony)
Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity (Felony) – 2 counts
Possession of a Destructive Weapon (Felony)
Receiving a Stolen Firearm (Felony)
Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 1 Quantity (Felony)
Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)
Possession of a Controlled Substance – 3 counts
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Crow was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $158,000 cash bond.
Quinton Perry:
Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony)
Conspiracy Second Degree (Felony)
Perry was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $5,500 cash bond.
On Friday afternoon, the Delaware State Police arrested 69-year-old Louis Morelli of Lewes, Delaware for felony DUI after a traffic stop that occurred in Lewes.
On May 19, 2023, at approximately 1:00 p.m., a trooper on patrol observed a blue Honda Accord traveling westbound on Lewes Georgetown Highway near the intersection at Dairy Farm Road. The trooper saw the Accord accelerate and pass several vehicles without signaling, and the driver of the Accord nearly caused an accident at the intersection of Dairy Farm Road and Beaver Dam Road. The trooper stopped the Accord and contacted the driver, identified as Louis Morelli. During their interaction, the trooper detected signs of impairment with Morelli, and Morelli was subsequently taken into custody for DUI. A computer check showed that Morelli has four prior convictions for DUI.
Morelli was taken to Troop 7 and charged with 5th Offense DUI (felony) and numerous traffic violations. He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $7,000 secured bond.
An 18-year-old female of Dover is receiving treatment at an area hospital following a domestic incident that lead to a vehicle pursuit and barricade, causing major traffic delays. The incident began when Officers were called to the unit block of Vera Way for the report of a domestic where a female was in possession of a knife threatening another subject. Upon officers arrival, the female, an 18-year-old of Dover, was still in possession of the knife and when officers confronted her, she entered a vehicle and drove away which prompted officers to pursue her. The 18-year-old drove westbound to McKee Road and College Road where she stopped and officers attempted to take her into custody. While officers were attempting to take her into custody, the 18-year-old pulled out a large knife and reversed her vehicle, striking a Dover Police patrol vehicle. The 18-year-old then drove northbound on McKee Road to Scarborough road, eventually traveling southbound on North DuPont Highway, before coming to a stop in the southbound lanes in the 1100 Block of North DuPont Highway. The pursuit lasted approximately 10 minutes. Officers made contact with the 18-year-old at the window of the vehicle and she expressed the intent to harm herself with the knife while refusing to exit the vehicle. An ambulance was requested and the northbound and southbound lanes of North DuPont Highway were closed in the immediate area. Members of the Dover Police Department’s Crisis Negotiations Team spoke to the 18-year-old for approximately an hour and 29 minutes before she exited the vehicle and was taken into custody without incident. The 18-year-old was transported to an area hospital for an evaluation. No one was injured during this incident and no vehicles were damaged. Given the sensitive circumstances surrounding this incident, the names of the individuals will not be released.
It’s incidents like this that remind us that we never know what someone is going through and mental health affects everyone. If you, or someone you now is struggling with mental health issues, reach out to the National Alliance on Mental Illness at 1-800-950-6264, or the Mental Health Association of Delaware at 302-654-6833.
The Delaware State Police are investigating a shooting that occurred in Bridgeville last night that left one man dead.
On May 14, 2023, at approximately 7:01 p.m., troopers responded to the 21000 block of Mill Park Drive regarding a shooting that had just occurred. Troopers arrived and found 23-year-old Orbby Holder of Bridgeville, Delaware lying on the front yard of a residence suffering from gunshot wounds. Troopers and EMS personnel rendered medical aid to Holder at the scene, and he was taken to an area hospital for emergency treatment. Holder was later pronounced dead at the hospital, and the Delaware State Police Homicide Unit assumed the investigation.
Detectives learned that Holder had been at a party on Mill Park Drive when he was confronted by an unknown man. The confrontation escalated and the unknown suspect shot Holder with a handgun. The suspect then fled the scene in an unknown direction.
No suspect information is currently available. The Homicide Unit is still actively investigating this incident. Detectives are asking for anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective M. Csapo by calling 302-741-2729. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Delaware State Police are investigating a fatal single motor vehicle collision that occurred in the Seaford area this morning.
On May 14, 2023, at approximately 5:34 a.m., a 1999 Toyota Corolla operated by a 33-year-old male of Bridgeville, DE, was traveling westbound on Hearns Pond Road at a high rate of speed, approaching the intersection of Conrail Road. The intersection of Hearns Pond Road and Conrail Road is controlled by a four-way stop sign. Immediately west of the intersection of Conrail Road, there is a railroad crossing. The Toyota failed to stop at the stop sign and continued west through the intersection and over the railroad crossing, which caused the vehicle to go airborne. The Toyota then landed in the center of Hearns Pond Road, and began rotating clockwise as it was traveling in a northwesterly direction. The Toyota exited the north edge of the roadway, crossing over a ditch and its front center struck a tree.
The 33-year-old male operator of the Toyota who was not properly restrained, was pronounced deceased on the scene. Identification of the victim is pending notification to the next of kin.
Hearns Pond Road in the area of the collision was closed for approximately 4.5 hours while the crash was investigated, and the roadway was cleared.
The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this collision. Troopers are asking anyone who witnessed this collision to please contact Senior Corporal R. Albert by calling 302-703-3266. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Delaware State Police have arrested 42-year-old Reed Messer, a former Delaware educator for multiple counts of rape after accusations of a sexual relationship with a former student.
On December 23, 2022, the Delaware State Police Troop 2, Criminal Investigations Unit, received a report from the Delaware Division of Family Services alleging a former teacher at Stanton Middle School, located at 1800 Limestone Road, Wilmington, had a sexual relationship with a juvenile student, approximately nine years prior. Through further investigation it was determined that the teacher and student had an apparent sexual relationship that began in October 2014 and lasted for approximately two months.
On April 26, 2023, troopers obtained an arrest warrant for Messer. Law Enforcement in South Carolina located Messer at her residence in Greenville, South Carolina and took her into custody. Messer was being held in the Department of Corrections in South Carolina until yesterday when she was extradited back to Delaware.
On May 9, 2023, Messer was transported to Troop 2 where she was charged with the following crimes:
Sexual Abuse of a Child by a Person of Trust 1st Degree (Felony) – 2 counts
Rape 3rd Degree (Felony)- 10 Counts
Rape 4th Degree (Felony)- 10 Counts
Messer was arraigned by the Justice of the Peace Court #2 and committed to the Delores J. Baylor Women’s Correctional Institution on a $310,000 cash bond.
Reed Messer has not been an employee of the Red Clay Consolidated School District since November 2014.
Due to the sensitivity of this case, and in consideration of the victim, only limited information will be released.
Delaware State Police Troop 2 Criminal Investigations Unit continues to investigate this case. Troopers are asking anyone who believes they have information regarding any additional criminal activity of Messer to please contact Detective A. Bange by calling 302-365-8390. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit
The Delaware State Police are investigating a shooting that occurred last night in Dover that left one man injured.
On May 6, 2023, at approximately 11:43 p.m., troopers responded to the 1500 block of South Governors Avenue regarding a shooting. Troopers discovered that a 19-year-old Dover man had been shot once in his leg while he was leaving a nearby party. The man was taken to an area hospital for non-life-threatening injuries and was later released. Troopers learned that several vehicles were struck by rounds during the shooting, as well the nearby Touchdown bar and Valero gas station buildings.
No other injuries were reported, and detectives recovered numerous bullet casings from the area. There is currently no suspect information available.
The Troop 3 Criminal Investigations Unit is investigating this incident. Detectives are asking for anyone with information regarding this case to contact Detective J. Baldwin by calling 302-698-8426. Information may also be provided by sending a Private Facebook Message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
If you or someone you know is a victim or witness of a crime or have lost a loved one to a sudden death and need assistance, the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit / Delaware Victim Center is available to offer you support and resources 24 hours a day through a toll-free hotline at 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461). You may also email the Victim Services Unit at [email protected]
The Delaware State Police have arrested 28-year-old Evelio Alvarez of Frankford, Delaware on gun charges following a traffic stop that took place late Saturday night.
On May 6, 2023, at approximately 11:44 p.m., troopers were dispatched to the 36000 block of Robin Hood Road in Delmar regarding a report of a subject with a gun. As troopers were responding to the scene, dispatch advised that the suspect was leaving the area in a silver Dodge Durango. Troopers found the silver Durango on Old Stage Road in Laurel and conducted a traffic stop. During the stop troopers learned that one of the rear seat passengers, identified as Evelio Alvarez, had a gun. Troopers attempted to take Alvarez into custody, but he refused to listen to commands and physically resisted arrest. Alvarez was detained by troopers and placed in a police vehicle, where he began damaging the interior. Troopers searched the Durango and found a handgun that had been concealed under the front passenger seat.
Computer checks showed that Alvarez, who appeared to be drunk, is a convicted drug offender prohibited from possessing a firearm. Alvarez was taken to Troop 5 and charged with the following crimes:
Carrying a Concealed Firearm (Felony)
Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony)
Resisting Arrest
Possession of a Firearm While Under the Influence
Criminal Mischief
Alvarez was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $15,100 cash bond.
The Delaware State Police have arrested 43-year-old Lenell Abbott of Dover, Delaware on several felony gun and drug charges following an investigation that began Thursday evening.
On May 4, 2023, at approximately 10:23 p.m., troopers responded to a residence on Cathy Avenue in Dover after the homeowner reported that his house had been struck by gunfire. Troopers discovered that a 13-year-old boy had been in his bedroom earlier that day when a bullet went through his wall. The boy was not injured, and troopers were able to trace the bullet’s trajectory back to the neighboring residence. Detectives contacted the neighbor, identified as Lenell Abbott, and learned that Abbott had accidentally fired a handgun through his kitchen window.
Computer checks of Abbott revealed that he is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms and/or ammunition. Detectives executed a search warrant at Abbott’s home and found two more handguns, two boxes of ammunition, approximately 34.61 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 15.32 grams of powder cocaine, and over $7,500 in suspected drug dealing proceeds.
Abbott was taken to Troop 3 and charged with the following crimes:
Possession of a Controlled Substance in a Tier 3 Quantity (Felony)
Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance in a Tier 2 Quantity (Felony)
Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited (Felony) – 3 counts
Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance (Felony)
Reckless Endangering First Degree (Felony)
Criminal Mischief
Abbott was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on $27,700 unsecured bond.
The Delaware State Police have arrested 44-year-old Christopher Harris of Cheswold, Delaware for felony DUI following a traffic stop that took place yesterday afternoon in Dover.
On May 6, 2023, at approximately 4:16 p.m., a trooper on patrol observed a silver Dodge Ram traveling northbound on South Dupont Highway near Walnut Shade Road. The trooper saw the driver of the pickup swerving on the road, cross his lane lines multiple times, and change lanes without using a turn signal. The trooper stopped the Ram and contacted the driver, identified as Christopher Harris. The trooper smelled alcohol coming from Harris’ breath, observed signs of impairment, and saw open alcoholic drinks in the truck. Harris was subsequently taken into custody for DUI.
Computer checks of Harris showed that his driver’s license was suspended. Checks also showed that Harris has eight prior convictions for DUI. Harris was taken to Troop 3 and charged with 7th Offense or Greater DUI and numerous traffic offenses. Harris was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on $21,007 cash bond.
The Delaware State Police have arrested 30-year-old Dane Smith of Ocean View, Delaware for shoplifting, lewdness, and other offenses following an incident that occurred yesterday afternoon in Bear.
On May 2, 2023, at approximately 4:06 p.m., troopers responded to the Lowe’s located at 1030 East Songsmith Drive for a report of a shoplifter in the store. A trooper arrived and was told by employees that there was a man who had passed out in a store aisle after he had intentionally inhaled numerous cans of air duster spray that he did not purchase. The suspect had also exposed his penis and vomited on himself while in Lowe’s, disturbing other shoppers. The trooper contacted the man, identified as Dane Smith, who rose to his feet and made a fist. The trooper attempted to take Smith into custody, but Smith physically resisted arrest and struggled with the trooper. The trooper was able to handcuff Smith after she used her Taser to gain compliance.
Smith was taken to an area hospital for medical treatment. Afterwards, he was taken to Troop 2 and charged with the following crimes:
Resisting Arrest With Force or Violence (Felony)
Offensive Touching of a Law Enforcement Officer
Shoplifting Under $1,500
Lewdness
Menacing
Inhaling Intoxicating Fumes or Vapors
Disorderly Conduct
Smith was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2 and committed to Howard R. Young Correctional Institution on $6,000 secured bond.
According to the FTC’s complaint against CHBA, related entities, and their owners, the company targeted consumers who searched online for information about affordable health insurance plans. CHBA telemarketers allegedly pitched consumers with a long list of false claims about the benefits of the discount plans, including that the plans were as widely accepted and would provide the same cost savings as legitimate health insurance companies, and also misled consumers about the company’s refund policies.
According to the 
