Wilmington – The Delaware Child Predator Task Force arrested a Wilmington man yesterday on child pornography charges after a multi-state investigation revealed he posted images of child pornography online, Attorney General Beau Biden announced today.

“This arrest demonstrates that we are working effectively with law enforcement partners from across the country to track down predators wherever they are and taking them off the streets,” Biden said.

The Task Force investigation was initiated after it received a report from North Carolina authorities who had initiated an investigation into an unknown subject who had posted multiple nude images of a middle school-age girl online.  When North Carolina investigators determined the subject was located in Delaware the case was referred to the Delaware Child Predator Task Force which continued the investigation, identified the subject as 27 year-old Brahim M. Kelley, and secured a warrant for Kelley’s arrest.  Yesterday, November 14th, members of the Child Predator Task Force, along with a uniformed Trooper from DSP Troop #6, took Kelley into custody and executed a search warrant at his residence on White Hall Circle in Wilmington.  During the search, multiple computers, a cell phone and numerous digital storage devices were seized.

Based on the online investigation Kelley was charged yesterday with 25 counts of dealing in child pornography, was arraigned via videophone by JP Court #11, and was taken to the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in lieu of $375,000 secured bail.  The Delaware Child Predator Task Force investigation, including an examination of the evidence seized at Kelley’s residence yesterday, continues.

A booking image of Kelley is below

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Wilmington –  In his weekly message, Governor Markell discusses the multi-billion dollar Delaware farming industry and our efforts to support its growth.

“We’re looking forward to a strong future for farming in Delaware,” said Governor Markell. “Just as we’re committed to preserving our physical farming resources by properly maintaining our land, we must also support our human resources – the 2,500 farmers we have now as well as thousands more to come.”

Every Friday, the Governor’s office releases a new Weekly Message in video, audio, and transcript form. The message is available on:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2BrkyuEdI4
Delaware.Gov:  http://governor.delaware.gov/podcast_video.shtml
By email: Please contact our press team to subscribe to our press list
Facebook:  www.facebook.com/governormarkell
Twitter:  www.twitter.com/governormarkell

Transcript of the Governors Weekly Message: Planting the Seeds for Economic Growth.

To grow Delaware’s economy, we must build on our strengths. And no economic engine has been more reliable throughout our history than farming. It’s now a multibillion dollar industry in our state.

We’re looking forward to a strong future for farming in Delaware. Just as we’re committed to preserving our physical farming resources by properly maintaining our land, we must also support our human resources – the 2,500 farmers we have now as well as thousands more to come.

Young Delawareans just starting out in agribusiness are now participating in our innovative Young Farmers Program. This initiative helps to ensure the next generation of farmers has the tools and opportunities to continue Delaware’s great farming tradition.The high cost of land is one of the obstacles for young people getting into farming, and our program helps solve that problem by providing no-interest loans to help purchase land.

We’re supporting Delawareans like Phillip and Cara Sylvester, a young husband and wife team who used a state loan program last year to help expand their Felton-area farming operation, where they grow corn, soybeans, wheat and lima beans. Ten new farmers who just joined our initiative will be raising poultry, and growing corn, soybeans, wheat and watermelon.

Our farming heritage is strong and proud, as we saw recently when we honored members of our Century Farm Program – a group of Delawareans who have been farming the same land for more than 100 years. The strength of Delaware’s agriculture will continue because of our farmers’ hard work and the investments we make in their needs. By supporting them, we’ll keep Delaware moving forward.

Wilmington – Attorney General Beau Biden today announced that free state housing workshops will take place next week to assist homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments and face foreclosure.  Both workshops – to be held Monday in Wilmington and Tuesday in Dover – bring together mortgage servicers, state employees, and HUD-certified housing counselors who will discuss mortgage modifications, government homeowner programs, and foreclosure scams with homeowners.

“I urge Delawareans who are facing the loss of their home to foreclosure and who have had difficulty discussing their mortgage with their bank to attend our free workshops, where homeowners can meet face-to-face with their lenders and receive in-person assistance from housing counselors, staff from my office, and other housing professionals,” Biden said.

No reservations are needed to attend the workshops, which will take place as follows:

Monday, November 18, 2013

3 – 7 pm

Chase Center on the Riverfront

815 Justison Street, Wilmington

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

1 – 7 pm

Modern Maturity Center

1121 Forrest Avenue, Dover

Homeowners who wish to meet on-site with their mortgage servicer should bring information about current income and details about their current mortgage, including loan number, monthly payment, interest rate, and loan balance.

The workshops are made possible through “Delaware Homeowner Relief”, a partnership between the Attorney General’s office and the Delaware State Housing Authority which supports housing counseling, education and outreach, foreclosure mediation, mortgage fraud investigation and prosecution, emergency mortgage assistance, manufactured housing lot rent assistance, and servicer events, where homeowners can meet personally with representatives from mortgage lenders to work toward a resolution to their mortgage crisis.  The programs it supports are funded in part with a portion of funds Delaware received through the 2012 Multistate Mortgage Foreclosure Settlement between the federal government and five of the nation’s largest mortgage-servicing banks.

For more information about next week’s workshops, to learn more about state foreclosure prevention programs, or if you believe you have been the victim of a mortgage fraud or scam, call the Delaware Homeowner Relief Hotline toll-free at (800) 220-5424 or visit www.DelawareHomeownerRelief.com.

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Wilmington – Attorney General Beau Biden today urged Delawareans to be on the lookout for fraudulent charitable solicitation scams related to the devastation caused to the Philippines this past week by Typhoon Haiyan.

“Delawareans are always quick to answer the call for help, and we know from experience that fraudsters will try to take advantage of that generosity by setting up bogus relief organizations that claim to provide aid,” Biden said.  “Many legitimate charities, however, are properly soliciting donations to help the victims of Typhoon Haiyan and I urge Delawareans to help ensure their money goes to that intended purpose by following a few basic rules.”

To protect themselves against solicitation fraud, Biden urges Delawareans to:

• Make sure a charity is legitimate by visiting the Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org, Charity Navigator at www.charitynavigator.org, or the American Institute of Philanthropy at www.charitywatch.org where you can view lists of verified charities. Ensure that the solicitation website and the purported charity match and that the website is secure.
• Hang up on aggressive cold callers and delete unsolicited e-mail.  Fraudulent solicitors may sound convincing and will do their best to appeal to your emotions; legitimate charities will inform you of their charitable mission and the ways your donation will be put to good use.
• Ask whether your donation is tax-deductable.  You have a right to know how your donated funds are used and you are entitled to ask questions and get answers about the charity that will be receiving your money.
• Avoid clicking on links received via email or online pop-ups and do not provide any personal information to anyone you suspect is attempting to fraudulently solicit you. Providing even your address or zip code may allow fraudsters to take advantage of you.
• Do not give cash donations and do not supply your credit card number or other personal financial information.  If you wish to make a donation, you should pay by check and make the payment out to the charity’s full name.  Avoid using initials or abbreviations in making out the check and do not make it payable to anyone except the legitimate charity you want the funds to go to.
• Contact the charity directly before making any donations and ask questions about the percentage of your donation that will be put to use on the ground in the Philippines and surrounding areas of devastation.

Anyone who suspects they have been scammed or have received a suspicious solicitation, Biden said, should immediately call the Attorney General’s toll-free Consumer Hotline at 1-800-220-5424 or email the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit at consumer.protection@delaware.gov.

The types of scams Delawareans should be especially aware of in the wake of Haiyan include:

• Relief organizations that have popped up overnight
• Solicitations for cash-only donations
• Highly emotional solicitations, including high pressure tactics to compel you to donate.

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