Rape of child, home invasion punished with prison terms
Also: Home improvement contractor pleads guilty to multiple fraud charges
A Wilmington teenager received a 12-year in prison sentence for several shootings tied to gang activity. Elijah Crawford, 17, was sentenced by a Superior Court judge for his September guilty plea on two counts of Assault First Degree, two counts of Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, one count of Possession of a Handgun by a Prohibited Juvenile, and one count of Gang Participation. Crawford, a member of the Shoot to Kill (STK) gang in Wilmington, was accused of shooting 5 people, including 4 other juveniles, in a gang dispute with the Only My Brothers (OMB) Gang in the summer of 2016. Crawford was sentenced to 12 years in prison, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 3 years of probation. The judge also imposed 55 years of back time on Crawford if he violates probation after his prison sentence. Deputy Attorney General Mark Denney prosecuted the case, with the assistance of Detective Devon Jones of the Wilmington Police Department.
Deputy Attorneys General Rebecca Anderson and Michael Tipton secured a guilty plea and prison sentence for the leader of a criminal organization operating in Kent and Sussex counties. A multi-jurisdictional effort dubbed Operation “Duck Hunt” targeted DeAngelo McGlotten, 32, of Millsboro as the man leading a group of friends engaged in large-scale heroin distribution and money laundering. In January 2016, search warrants on McGlotten’s home in Bridgeville and on a vehicle linked to him led to the seizure of 42,250 bags of heroin $7740 cash, a stolen 9 mm handgun, and a Marlin 30-30 rifle. The investigation into McGlotten and his organization continued with officials conducting a wiretap on phone lines belonging to McGlotten and several of his associates. As a result of the wiretaps, additional search warrants netted over $170,000 and more than a kilogram of heroin in May 2016. Additionally, numerous firearms, vehicles, and properties were seized in connection to the organization. McGlotten pled guilty to Racketeering, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and Drug Dealing Tier II Heroin. A Superior Court judge immediately sentenced McGlotten, barred from having a gun because of prior felony convictions on drug and weapons charges, to 12 years in prison and then 18 months of probation.
A New Castle man faces at least 17 years in prison for his guilty plea to Murder Second Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony charges. Deputy Attorneys General Brian Robertson and Dominic Carrera, 54, secured the plea from Gregory Parker. In January 2016, Parker bludgeoned 47-year-old Shawn Spence to death inside the home that Parker formerly shared with his ex-girlfriend in the 900 block of Eider Court near New Castle. When sentenced by a judge in February, Parker faces 17 years to life in prison. New Castle County Police Department Detective Steven Burse spearheaded the investigation, and DOJ victim/witness specialist Crystal Pitts and Homicide Unit paralegal Jamie Prater assisted in the prosecution.
Deputy Attorney General Jenna Milecki secured a prison sentence for a 34-year-old New Castle man for raping a child. In summer 2016, Gemiyale Adkins sexually assaulted a young child. In September 2017, Adkins pled guilty to one count of Rape Second Degree and one count of Rape Fourth Degree in Superior Court. A judge sentenced Adkins to 25 years in prison, followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then 10 years of probation. Adkins must also register as a Tier 3 sex offender. DOJ social worker Claudia Melton assisted with the case.
Deputy Attorney General Phillip Casale secured a prison sentence for Kysheem Byrd, 25, of Chester, PA in connection with a home invasion. In June 2016, Byrd and another man, armed with guns, broke into a home in the 2100 block of London Way in Newark. In September 2017, Byrd pled guilty to charges of Home Invasion, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Conspiracy Second Degree. A Superior Court judge sentenced Byrd to 9 years in prison followed by 6 months of either home confinement or work release, then one year of probation. DOJ social worker Kristen Fluharty-Emory assisted on the case.
A 50-year old Middletown man faces up to 16 years in prison after pleading guilty to 4 counts of Home Improvement Fraud and 4 counts of Theft. The felony pleas came in connection with a series of home improvement frauds involving at least 16 victims and approximately $300,000 in losses in southern New Castle County and northern Kent County. Mario W. Mareno, 50, was first arrested in May 2016 by the First State Fugitive Task Force on outstanding warrants for Home Improvement Fraud from the Delaware State Police, the New Castle County Police, and the Middletown Police Department. Following arrest and release on bail, Mareno disappeared from the state, but law enforcement located him in Forsyth, North Carolina, and he was extradited back to Delaware. An investigation found that in 2015 and 2016 Mareno solicited and corresponded with victims via Facebook, text messages, and email. Mareno would get victims to make large up-front payments, supposedly to obtain required permits and purchase materials and supplies, and then never substantially complete the work. In some cases, victims discovered that Mareno did not obtain permits or purchase materials as represented, and he manufactured evidence purporting to show that delays and problems were the fault of other people, including victims themselves. In addition to pleading guilty to Home Improvement Fraud and Theft, Mareno will be ordered to provide restitution to all victims, and will, upon his release from prison, be prohibited from working, advertising, or otherwise offering any type of construction services, including home improvement services, in the State of Delaware. Sentencing will take place on December 12. Deputy Attorneys General Christian Douglas Wright, Gillian Andrews, and Shaun Michael Kelly prosecuted the case, with assistance from CPU Chief Special Investigator Alan Rachko and paralegal Angela Williams.