Dover, Del.- Delaware libraries throughout the state are offering information sessions and one-on-one enrollment assistance on Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace. These presentations have been available for the public since the beginning of November.

Certified Marketplace Guides will give presentations at the libraries for Delaware residents interested in enrolling in low-cost health insurance made possible by the Affordable Care Act.

Four community organizations, Brandywine Women’s Health Associates, Christiana Care, Delmarva Foundation for Medical Care, Inc. and Westside Family Healthcare are under contract to provide one-on-one guidance through certified Marketplace Guides to residents about the new marketplace, which will help give the 90,000 uninsured Delawareans greater access to affordable health care.

There are more than 70 guides throughout Delaware who have been undergoing rigorous state and federal training, a proctored exam, and state and federal background checks to be certified to handle sensitive personal information.

Enrollment in the marketplace opened October 1, 2013, and runs through March 31, 2014.  Insurance coverage begins as early as January 1, 2014, for those who enroll by Dec. 15, 2013.

For more information on Delaware’s Health Insurance Marketplace go to www.ChooseHealthDE.com. For information on the Affordable Care Act, as well as dates, times, and locations of sessions, may be found on the Delaware Libraries ACA guide at http://guides.lib.de.us/ACA

For more information on Delaware Libraries go to www.delawarelibraries.org.

Contact: Beth-Ann Ryan at (302) 257-3002 or beth-ann.ryan@delaware.gov, Delaware Division of Libraries, Deputy Director.

JPMorgan Chase will compensate State for selling mortgage-backed securities that were central to economic crisis; Biden says “we will continue to seek accountability”

Wilmington – In the latest effort by his office to hold accountable those responsible for the mortgage foreclosure crisis, Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden announced that JPMorgan Chase will pay $19.7 million to settle allegations stemming from conduct that helped cause the greatest economic downturn since the Great Depression.

Tuesday’s settlement is part of a global agreement that JPMorgan also reached today with the U.S. Department of Justice and four other states resolving allegations concerning the bundling and sale of mortgages to investors. The investments – bought by pension funds, mutual funds and other investors – were much riskier than advertised. The resulting losses were catastrophic for the economy.

“Our financial system only works when everyone plays by the rules,” Biden said. “As a result of our coordinated investigations, we are holding accountable one of the financial institutions that broke the rules and helped cause the economic crisis that brought our nation to its knees.  Even as the American people recover from this crisis, we will continue to seek accountability on their behalf.”

Delaware’s $19.7 million will be used to compensate a variety of state entities for their losses on these investments and to fund further efforts to help Delawareans emerge from the financial crisis, strengthen Delaware’s communities and alleviate other harm caused by the financial crisis.

The Delaware settlement resolved a joint investigation by Biden’s Fraud Division and Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley’s Insurance and Financial Services Division that examined JPMorgan’s conduct when issuing mortgage-backed securities. The federal investigation was led by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities Working Group, under the leadership of Associate U.S. Attorney General Tony West and New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Biden, also a member of the RMBS Working Group, thanked West and Schneiderman for their leadership.

Tuesday’s settlement is Biden’s latest enforcement action in response to the mortgage foreclosure crisis. His office has been a national leader in seeking accountability for the crisis and helping homeowners.

“As a prosecutor and a consumer protector, I have an obligation to hold those responsible for causing the crisis accountable – and that work is not done,” Biden said.

Recent actions by Biden and his office include:

• In February 2012, Biden, 48 of his colleagues and the federal government signed a $25 billion settlement with the nation’s five largest mortgage-servicing banks (including JPMorgan). That settlement brought $11.7 million to the State and has, so far, meant $75 million in financial benefits to 3,000 Delawareans. It also included important new protections for America’s military personnel that Biden fought to include in the settlement.

• In July 2012, Biden secured important operational reforms from MERS – a national shadow mortgage registry at the heart of the mortgage crisis – in a settlement of a lawsuit he filed the year before. MERS’ inaccurate and unreliable records made it difficult if not impossible for homeowners to determine which financial institution owned their mortgage.

• In October 2012, Biden announced that an investigation by his office into allegations of “robo-signing” and other improper mortgage services provided by subsidiaries of Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS) led to the Florida-based company paying $250,000 to the State of Delaware.

• In January 2013, Biden, 12 of his colleagues and the federal government filed separate suits against Standard & Poor’s, charging the rating agency with violating state law by misrepresenting that its evaluations of mortgage-backed securities were fair and impartial when actually S&P made decisions based on its own financial interests. That suit is still pending.

This matter was handled for Delaware by Fraud Division Director Matthew Lintner, Investor Protection Director Owen Lefkon, Assistant Attorney General David Casler, and Paralegal Debra Szymurski.

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Dover – Three former shelter residents today have a home to call their own thanks to the efforts of the Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) and Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing (DIMH) which together celebrated the milestone of the 500th home assisted through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) by opening DIMH’s first permanent supportive housing residence in Dover.  This previously foreclosed and vacant home will provide stable housing for employed, income-qualified residents formerly housed at DIMH’s shelter.

The property was purchased through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP). NSP provides grants to every state and certain local communities to purchase foreclosed or abandoned homes and to rehabilitate, resell, or redevelop these homes in order to stabilize neighborhoods and stem the decline of house values of neighboring homes.

Delaware’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program allocation of more than $36M has been used to assist 500 homes for families and individuals.

Governor Jack Markell stated, “Supporting the recovery of neighborhoods and communities remains an important priority for my administration.  The completion of the Ross Street home shows what partnerships can achieve in stabilizing neighborhoods and providing Delawareans with secure, affordable places to live.”

“DSHA has supported Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing’s efforts since the beginning.  We’ve watched them grow from a group of ministries providing refuge from the cold in their churches, to operating a much-needed year-round shelter.  We are pleased to partner with them as they take this momentous step forward in establishing permanent housing for their residents,” said DSHA Director Anas Ben Addi. “The investment in NSP also has an important ripple effect in that a good portion of the funds are recycled as program income to offer additional affordable housing opportunities.”

The State of Delaware is approaching the five-year anniversary for administering the NSP program. In that time, NSP has garnered successful statewide partnerships throughout the housing spectrum – including local governments, nonprofits, housing counseling agencies, realtors, lending institutions, for-profit developers, and homebuyers. NSP has become a viable national program with the ability to directly combat the foreclosure crisis of America, which is evidenced by this celebration of reaching the goal of 500 homes here in Delaware.

Jeanine Kleimo, Chair of the DIMH Board of Directors commented, “The Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing helps homeless men to have faith in their future.  Our residents are excited about the Ross Street house as an example of what their efforts can produce, and they are happy for those who will live there.  This has been an inspiring project for all of us, as it helps us to show the best of “our men” and what they can achieve for themselves and for one another.  We all appreciate this opportunity to work with DSHA to produce something of such immediate and lasting benefit for the men we work with every day.”

Donald Smith, a new resident of 523 Ross Street, added, “I am excited and happy and thankful to Dover Interfaith Mission and to the Delaware State Housing Authority.  I feel that this is a big step in my life.  I will try to give back by being a good resident.”  Mr. Smith struggled with homelessness and has been awaiting the opportunity to move into affordable housing.  He is giving back to the community by working at another local shelter in Dover.

Dover Interfaith Mission for Housing applied for NSP funds to purchase and maintain permanent supportive housing, focusing on a special needs populations category that targets households earning less than 30% of the area median income and the homeless. Tenants residing in the home will be former and/or current DIMH shelter residents who earn stable incomes and are working toward independence.  Selected applicants will include men who were successful, or are currently doing well, in the shelter and would make good tenants. These men are goal-oriented, responsible individuals unable to secure affordable local housing.  The home will be operated as a private rental unit with residents maintaining portions of the property which includes ongoing oversight and continued services, if needed, from DIMH staff.

About the Delaware State Housing Authority
The Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA), formed in 1968, is dedicated to providing quality, affordable housing opportunities and appropriate supportive services to low- and moderate-income Delawareans. In addition to its role as the State’s Housing Finance Agency, DSHA is unique in that it also serves as a Public Housing Authority and acts as a Community Development and Planning Agency. As a Public Housing Authority, DSHA receives funding from HUD to build, own, and operate public housing in Kent and Sussex counties, two of Delaware’s three counties. For more information about the Delaware State Housing Authority, please call: (888) 363-8808 or visit our website at: www.destatehousing.com.

Contact:
Christina M. Hardin
Chief of Community Relations, DSHA
Phone: (302) 739-4263
Email: Christina@destatehousing.com

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Georgetown –  Attorney General Beau Biden today announced that his office has filed an emergency motion with the Delaware Board of Funeral Services to suspend the license of a woman who was recently arrested and charged with posing as the niece of a deceased client and withdrawing thousands from the estate.

Deborah E. Harris-Nock, of Greenwood, is a licensed Delaware funeral director who operates Deborah Harris-Nock Funeral Services, a/k/a Deborah E. Harris Funeral Services, in Bridgeville.  On October 11, 2013 Harris-Nock was arrested and charged with Perjury, Criminal Impersonation, and Theft after a joint Georgetown Police and Seaford Police investigation revealed that she had identified herself to the Register of Wills as the niece of a deceased individual whose family had contracted with her to conduct funeral services.  Harris-Nock is alleged to have completed the paperwork necessary to fraudulently name herself executrix of the estate, and subsequently used those documents to withdraw more than $9,000 from the estate of the deceased.

On October 21, 2013 the Attorney General’s office secured a criminal indictment from the Sussex County Grand Jury charging Harris-Nock with the crimes.

In last week’s filing before the Board of Funeral Services, Biden’s office is seeking the immediate suspension of Harris-Nock’s license so that she cannot work as a funeral director in Delaware pending a final hearing before the Board.

The Attorney General’s Complaint is attached.  A booking image from Harris-Nock’s October criminal arrest is copied below.

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Pharmaceutical company to move into Wilmington landmark, retaining hundreds of jobs

DOVER, Del. (Nov. 15, 2013) – Over the course of a decade, the State of Delaware has watched Incyte Corporation grow from a start-up bio-technology research firm into a research-based commercial biopharmaceutical company.

Incyte has reinforced its commitment to Delaware by signing a 15-year lease to occupy the former John Wanamaker building, a Wilmington landmark off the Augustine Cut-Off. Incyte’s lease of the roughly 191,000-square-foot facility will keep its current employment base in Delaware and provide space for the company’s planned ongoing employment growth.

“Incyte is moving into a landmark building and stepping further forward as a top innovation-driven business in our state,” Gov. Jack Markell said. “The company’s growth from start-up to pharmaceutical industry leader in Delaware demonstrates how our state is a great place to start and grow a business, and a place to develop an idea into a game-changing company.”

Incyte currently employs 372 people at the DuPont Experimental Station campus off Del. 141 and has established itself as a shining example of the First State’s many innovative firms through its discovery and development of groundbreaking, important new drugs.

Since basing its headquarters in Delaware, Incyte has discovered, developed and commercialized Jakafi^® (ruxolitinib), a medicine that was the first drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of a rare blood cancer and the first one in its class approved for any indication. Incyte is also developing Jakafi as a potential treatment for additional cancers and has a broad product pipeline that includes multiple compounds that address a number of unmet patient needs.

“Since choosing to open our labs in Delaware more than 10 years ago, Incyte has achieved many milestones, and we appreciate the ongoing encouragement of state officials, the technology-friendly environment and tremendous local talent,” stated Paul A. Friedman, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, Incyte Corporation. “When we move into our new space, we will proudly remain a part of this vibrant community, and we look forward to continued growth and the discovery and development of additional new medicines that we hope will make a difference in the lives of patients.”

In December 2012, Incyte was approved for a Delaware Strategic Fund performance grant in the amount of $10,070,505 for the retention of its then current 294 jobs in Delaware and the creation of 269 new jobs over the next five years. The company also was approved for a $1,050,000 capital expenditure grant.

According to Alan Levin, director of the Delaware Economic Development Office, the competition for Incyte was fierce among Delaware and other states vying to offer the company a new home.

“Keeping them here was crucial for us. Incyte is a Delaware company and we wanted that partnership and legacy to continue,” Levin said. “The company provides jobs that pay well and can entice those who graduate from Delaware universities to stay in Delaware.”

Incyte’s success will have a huge impact for America, and therefore Delaware, on a global scale, U.S. Sen. Chris Coons said.

“Ingenuity has always been central to America’s economic success,” Sen. Coons said. “If we are going to create and sustain the middle-class jobs our state needs to thrive, it will be because innovative companies like Incyte choose to invest in Delaware. Incyte’s renewed commitment to our state is proof that by nurturing and supporting our local innovators, Delaware is and can continue to be a great home for the next generation of high-paying biotech, life science, and advanced manufacturing jobs.”

U.S. Sen. Tom Carper encouraged the company to locate in Delaware in 2001, and subsequently expand its operation here to begin drug research.

“I am thrilled that Incyte has decided to stay in Delaware and expand its operations here,” Sen. Carper said. “I have watched this company go from an idea, to receiving FDA approval for its drug Jakafi, to today’s announcement of its expansion. This is a great day for the Incyte team, and is a great example of growing your own.”

About the Delaware Economic Development Office
The Delaware Economic Development Office is an executive state agency responsible for attracting new investors and businesses to the state, promoting the expansion of existing industry, assisting small and minority-owned businesses, promoting and developing tourism and creating new and improved employment opportunities for all citizens of the State. Visit dedo.delaware.gov.

About Incyte Corporation
Incyte Corporation is a Wilmington, Delaware-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of proprietary small molecule drugs for oncology and inflammation. For additional information on Incyte, please visit the company’s website at www.incyte.com.