The Delaware Department of Justice has achieved a number of significant convictions and sentencings in recent weeks.

Convictions:

Deputy Attorney General Periann Doko secured a conviction against Devin Trotter, 29, of New Castle, for carrying a concealed deadly weapon, possession of a deadly weapon, and drug possession. Police noticed a gun on the floor of an unregistered car parked in the 1300 block of Union Street in Wilmington in February. Trotter told police that the gun was legally purchased, but he had no permit to carry it.

Deputy Attorney General John Taylor secured a conviction against 30-year-old Kadarell Barrett of Wilmington for theft. Barrett deposited fraudulent checks into an account at the Franklin Mint Federal Credit Union on North Market Street in Wilmington, and then withdrew funds from the same account. He was immediately sentenced to two years in prison, suspended for one year of probation.

Deputy Attorney General Jenna Milecki secured convictions against Datwan Lum, 26, of Middletown, and Markevous Tymes, 23, of Wilmington, for second degree burglary, theft, and receiving stolen property. Lum and Tymes entered a home in the 2200 block of Hillside Road in Wilmignton in August 2014, stole property, and ransacked two rooms before leaving through the front door.

Deputy Attorney General John Taylor secured a conviction against 19-year-old Naesean McNeil of New Castle, for possession of ammunition by a person prohibited, and resisting arrest. McNeil ran from officers responding to a shoplifting call in Wilmington in January. When officers caught him, he was found to have a bullet in his possession.

Deputy Attorney General Katherine Butler secured a conviction of second degree reckless endangering against Shawn Polk, 26, of Bear. Polk went to the home of his girlfriend in the Haverford Place Apartments in Wilmington in September 2015, and used an ax to try to get in the apartment. Polk then left the building and backed into the victim, Kenisha Sutherland, with his car.

Deputy Attorney General Phillip Casale secured a guilty plea for first degree robbery and wearing a disguise during the commission of a felony, from Willie Corbin, 45, of Wilmington. In January, armed with a handgun, Corbin entered the King Star Convenience Store in the 2700 block of Lancaster Avenue in Wilmington, and demanded money from the clerk. He is scheduled to be sentenced in December.

Sentencings:

Deputy Attorneys General Jan van Amerongen and Colleen Norris secured a 30-year prison sentence for Wade Smith, 27, of New Castle for second degree murder and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Smith pled guilty in May to the September 2012 killing of his girlfriend Ashleigh Close.

Deputy Attorney General Tim Maguire secured a prison sentence for Allen Belile, 50, of Wilmington, for a sixth DUI offense, and first degree vehicular assault. In August 2014, Belile, driving drunk, recklessly passed a tractor trailer, and struck another car head on. On the DUI charge, Belile was sentenced to eight years in prison, suspended after four years for one year at Level 4, suspended after six months for one year at Level 3. On the vehicular assault, the sentence was three years in prison, suspended after 18 months for one year at Level 4, suspended after six months for one year at Level 3.

Deputy Attorney General Zachary Rosen secured a guilty plea to second degree vehicular assault and endangering the welfare of a child from 41-year-old Melinda Silva of New Castle. In October 2014, Silva, driving under the influence with a child as a passenger, collided with another car on Middletown Warwick Road at Bunker Hill Road in Middletown. Silva was sentenced to 14 days in prison, followed by probation.

Deputy Attorney General Karin Volker secured a ten year prison sentence for 39-year-old Arturo Juarez-Vega of Newark for fourth degree rape. Juarez-Vega forced a minor under the age of 16 to perform oral sex on him.

Deputy Attorney General Diana Dunn secured a prison sentence for Jackson Forrester, 55, of Townsend, for theft from a senior, and criminal trespass. In October 2013, Forrester stole an “eticket” from a slot machine at Delaware Park belonging to a 66-year-old woman. Forrester cashed the ticket in for $524. He was sentenced as a Habitual Offender and got two years in prison.

Deputy Attorney General Barzilai Axelrod secured a prison sentence against Waymond Wright, 42, of New Castle, for second degree robbery, second degree conspiracy, and second degree criminal solicitation. Wright was sentenced as an habitual offender and given 14 years in prison on the robbery charge, related to an incident with a foreigner behind the Wawa in the 1500 block of Dupont Highway in New Castle in August 2012. Wright was also declared an habitual offender on his criminal solicitation charge, related to the solicitation of a perjured affidavit from another for use in court proceedings, and was sentenced to four years in prison on that charge.

Deputy Attorney General Barzilai Axelrod secured a prison sentence for 44-year-old Gregory Huntzberry of Baltimore, MD, for home invasion, possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony, and possession of a deadly weapon by a person prohibited. In September of 2013, Huntzberry followed an elderly woman who had just made a withdrawal from an ATM to her home in the unit block of Tall Trees Lane in Wilmington. At the home, Huntzberry followed the victim into a garage, and confronted her and her husband at knifepoint, and stealing $80.00 cash. Huntzberry was sentenced to 25 years in prison, suspended after 8 years for probation.

Deputy Attorneys General Jamie McCloskey and Barzilai Axelrod secured a sentence against Edwin Andrews, 57, of Wilmington, for two counts of second degree robbery, and one count of possession of a deadly weapon during the commission of a felony. In June 2014, Andrews robbed the clerk at the Wawa at the corner of Route 13 and Memorial Drive at knifepoint. Andrews was declared an habitual offender on his robbery charges, and sentenced to 12 years in prison.

Investor Protection settlement:

Deputy Attorneys General Stephen McDonald and William Green secured a guilty plea from former trust and estates lawyer Michael Kwasnik, 46, Aventura Florida for felony securities fraud. Kwasnick sold promissory notes issued by Capital Management of Delaware, Inc., to three Delaware residents between May and September 2010. The investors’ money was commingled with that of Kwasnik’s prior investors, and in some cases misdirected into the client trust account of Kwasnik’s law firm. In all cases it was used to pay obligations owed to earlier investors and to satisfy preexisting debts of various Kwasnik-controlled entities. Kwasnick was sentenced to five years in prison, suspended for probation. He was also ordered to pay over $300,000 in restitution to three Delaware investors.

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