(Wilmington): Attorney General Carl C. Danberg introduced legislation today in the General Assembly which will seek to limit political activity while recognizing the legitimate free speech rights of State Department of Justice employees. This Act mirrors the restrictions placed upon federal employees by the Hatch Act to the extent practicable to ensure consistency with Delaware law. The political activities of State Department of Justice employees are of significant statewide concern. Partisan political activity of Department employees must be limited in order to preserve public confidence in the administration of justice and the enforcement of laws, and to maintain the efficiency and integrity of the Department and its employment system.

This Act will ensure that Department employees do not use their official authority or influence to improperly interfere with the political process of this State. It also will ensure that personal political activity of Department employees does not hinder the administration of justice or the enforcement of laws in the State of Delaware.

Representative Wayne Smith said, “It is imperative that we preserve the integrity of the election process and the public’s perception that election disputes are resolved by the Department of Justice in an impartial manner.”

In a statement earlier today, Senator Thurman Adams said “I applaud the Attorney General for his efforts to ensure the public’s confidence that our laws will be administered free from political interference.”

House Speaker Terry Spence said, “This legislation transcends partisan politics and allows the Attorney General’s Office to be viewed by the public as absolutely impartial, when handling election disputes.”

Attorney General Danberg said, “My office is frequently called upon to resolve election law disputes. For that reason, it is imperative that the office be beyond reproach to fulfill those duties. I am gratified for the bipartisan support from both the House and Senate chambers and by the unanimous and strong support of the Chief Deputy and the Divisions Heads in my office, for this proposal.”

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(Wilmington): In a press conference earlier today, Attorney General Carl Danberg announced a new statewide Check Enforcement Program. The new program, which is co-sponsored by the Better Business Bureau of Delaware, is designed to reduce the occurrence of worthless check crime. As of July 15, 2006, the program will be run directly through the Attorney General’s office and not through a third party. The program will remain free to participating merchants, who will receive instruction on good business practice, how to identify and prevent check fraud and how to reduce the risk that a bad check will be uncollectible. Once a participating merchant has attempted to collect on a check, the merchant can contact the Attorney General’s Office directly and the office will in turn send a letter to each individual, advising them of the consequences of failing to make good on their debts and the possibility of criminal prosecution.

Danberg said, “I believe this is a significant improvement over the existing program. Repeatedly in my meetings with area business leaders, I heard how the most effective tool seemed to be the initial contact from the Department of Justice.”
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(Wilmington): Sandra L. Edwards, a licensed nurse and the former Director of Nursing at a nursing home known as Green Valley Pavilion, LLC, pled guilty this morning in Kent County Superior Court to one count of Felony Health Care Fraud and one count of Felony Conspiracy to Commit Healthcare Fraud.

Delaware’s health care fraud statute, 11 Del. C. 913A, provides for enhanced penalties if the person charged was a health care provider, and if the fraud scheme in question constituted a pattern of behavior. Edwards admitted she was a health care provider at the time of the offense and that the illegal conduct she engaged in constituted a pattern of behavior. With respect to the Conspiracy count, Edwards admitted conspiring with four other nurses ” Mary Casper, Denise Rhinehart, Mary Yarrington, and Jann Cox ” to illegally alter various medical records of residents at Green Valley Pavilion in order to further a fraudulent billing scheme.

Edwards is scheduled to be sentenced on September 12, 2006, where she will face a maximum of seventeen years in jail.

This investigation is still continuing and anyone with further information on this matter, can contact Chief Detective John Miller at (302) 577-8938.
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WHO: Attorney General Carl C. Danberg Christine Sauers of the Better Business Bureau of Delaware

WHAT: Press Conference

WHEN: Tuesday, June 6, 2006, 11:00 a.m.

WHERE: State of Delaware Department of Justice

Carvel State Office Building
820 North French Street
6th Floor
Wilmington, DE 19801
WHY: The Attorney General will be announcing a new Check Enforcement Program.
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