Others sentenced for home improvement fraud, rape, assault, and robbery

Following are recent results obtained in cases pursued by the attorneys, investigators and staff of the Delaware Department of Justice:

Two brothers both received significant prison sentences for their roles as main players in a group selling drugs out of the Capitol Park neighborhood near Dover. Thirty-year-old Jermaine Brinkley, 30 was charged after a Delaware State Police wiretap investigation, which occurred in late 2014 and early 2015. Brinkley pled guilty to five counts of Drug Dealing, two counts of Aggravated Possession, and one count of Conspiracy Second Degree. Brinkley was sentenced to a total of 14 years in prison, followed by 1 year of Level IV work release, and 18 months Level III probation. Brinkley’s 26-year-old brother George pled guilty to four counts of Drug Dealing, one count of Conspiracy Second Degree, and one count of Resisting Arrest. George Brinkley was sentenced to a total of 8 ½ year in prison, followed by 18 months of Level III probation. Deputy Attorney General Lindsay Taylor handled both cases.

Brett Johnson, 33, of Magnolia, pled guilty to six counts of felony home improvement fraud. Throughout 2015, Johnson repeatedly took deposits from people for home improvement projects, and then never returned to complete the work. Superior Court Judge T. Henley Graves sentenced Johnson to two years at Level V suspended, and one year at Level II for each of the counts. Judge Graves also ordered full restitution to the nine victims, all of whom were senior citizens, in the amount of $11,554.75, and he imposed a restriction on future employment so that Mr. Johnson cannot be employed as a contractor ever again. Deputy Attorney General Jill Remming secured the sentences.

A Newport News, Virginia man will spend nine years in prison for rape. Deputy Attorney General Jan van Amerongen secured the sentence for 46-year old Gerald Griffin. In late 2014, Griffin raped a young woman with intellectual disabilities in her mother’s home in Wilmington. Griffin, a registered tier three sex offender, pled guilty to Rape Fourth Degree, and was sentenced by Judge Wallace to 15 years at Level V, suspended after 9 years, for 6 years at Level IV, suspended after 6 months, for 2 years of Level III probation.

Deputy Attorney General Jan van Amerongen secured a plea from Mingo Smalls, 21, of Newark to one count of Rape Fourth Degree. In February 2013, Smalls, then 18-years-old, had a sexual relationship with a 13-year-old eighth grader. Following a presentence investigation ordered by Judge Abigail LeGrow, Smalls will be sentenced in September.

Deputy Attorney General Cari Chapman secured a plea from Michael Ford, 37, of Wilmington, to Assault Second Degree. During an argument in December 2015, Ford punched his 62-year old mother in the face while he was on probation. As part of his plea, Ford defendant admitted his violation of probation, and agreed to serve four years in prison. Sentencing will take place later this month before Judge Jurden.

Deputy Attorney General Casey Ewart secured a prison sentence for Qadir Gardner, 18, of Norristown, Pennsylvania. In July 2015, Gardner, armed with a handgun, stole a man’s Toyota Prius from the Starbucks on Rehoboth Avenue in Rehoboth Beach. Gardner pled guilty to Carjacking 1st, Robbery 2nd, and Conspiracy 2nd. Judge Bradley sentenced the Gardner to three years in prison, and the successful completion of the Key Program, followed by the Level IV Crest Program, then two years of Level III probation with Crest Aftercare.

Print