The Delaware Department of Justice’s Human Trafficking Unit has indicted three individuals with running a ring of illicit massage establishments, Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced today

“Some people assume human trafficking only happens on the other side of the world, but the reality is that it is right in our backyard — and cases like these are just the tip of the iceberg,” said Attorney General Jennings. “I’m grateful to the prosecutors and law enforcement who continue to aggressively pursue traffickers and to support the victims of these atrocities.”

“Human trafficking is a continuing epidemic that brings challenges not only to the United States of America but countries across the globe,” said Colonel Melissa Zebley, the Superintendent of the Delaware State Police. “Locally, the Delaware State Police is working tirelessly with the Delaware Department of Justice and other law enforcement allies to identify and combat human trafficking by aggressively investigating individuals and businesses who prey upon unsuspecting victims.”

On February 27, a New Castle County grand jury charged Xui Li Kong, 57, Jing Zhang, 40, and Hua Li, 59, with one count each of Criminal Racketeering, Conspiracy to Commit Criminal Racketeering, Human Trafficking, Promoting Prostitution 3^rdDegree, Money Laundering, Conspiracy 2^ndDegree, Criminal Nuisance, and Operating a Massage Establishment without a License.  

Additionally, Kong was indicted on two counts of Insurance Fraud, one count of Theft, and one count of Tax Evasion.  Zhang was indicted on an additional count of Tax Evasion.  Li was indicted on one count of Failure to File a Return.

The indictment alleges that from March 2020 to February 2023, the trio, along with unindicted co-conspirators, operated a ring of illicit massage establishments in the North Wilmington and greater Newark areas.  Search warrants executed at several locations — Kong and Zhang’s personal residence on Ballymeade Drive in Wilmington, Bloom Head-to-Toe at 2610 Kirkwood Highway in Newark, Rainbow 7 Spa at 610 Capitol Trail in Newark, and Royal 7 Spa at 785 Pulaski Highway — revealed that female victims were living at the establishments in closed quarters and unsanitary living conditions. The victims were made to perform sexual services on male clients, and work long hours, 7 days a week as part of their job duties.  

The investigation further determined that Kong had applied for unemployment through the Department of Labor and was awarded over $25,000 in unemployment payments while alleging that one of the businesses, Bloom Head-to-Toe, was closed because of the pandemic.  Bank records subsequently showed that the business was in fact open and operating.  In addition, Kong had applied for Medicaid through the Department of Health and Social Services and had been approved based on her alleged income meeting the threshold of being under $18,075.00 per year.

The investigation revealed that during the period of time covered in the indictment the organization made over $300,000 in cash deposits across multiple personal bank accounts.  These cash deposits are in addition to credit card receipts and cash deposits into the business accounts for each establishment. Kong and her husband, Zhang, are alleged to have evaded taxes by not claiming appropriate income on their personal tax returns in relation to the establishments.  Li did not file any tax returns for this period.

As part of the investigation, the Department of Justice and Delaware State Police executed multiple search warrants on associated banks that froze over $200,000 in suspected illegal proceeds from the businesses.  In addition, a Racketeering Lien was signed and filed with the Court as part of the indictment, which places a lien on Kong and Zhang’s property at 122 Ballymeade Drive.

This indictment was secured by Deputy Attorneys General Michael Cooksey and Caroline Brittingham of the DOJ’s Human Trafficking Unit.  The investigation was a collaborative effort between members of the DOJ, the Delaware State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Wilmington Police Department, and members of the Delaware Division of Professional Regulation. 

Attorney General Matt Denn announced Friday that Deputy Attorney General Abigail Rodgers Layton has been named the next Director of the Family Division in the Delaware Department of Justice.

Layton is currently a prosecutor in the department’s Medicaid Fraud Control unit.

A graduate of Gettysburg College and Villanova University School of Law, Layton has worked for DOJ for 10 years, with some time in private practice as well. She served as the Commander of DOJ’s Child Predator Task Force for 4 years, and also as a criminal prosecutor in the department’s Misdemeanor Trial and Domestic Violence units. She is also the board president of Prevent Child Abuse Delaware.

“Abby is an accomplished prosecutor and manager, with a longstanding interest in the welfare of children,” said Attorney General Denn. “She is uniquely qualified to address the complex set of issues that the Family Division handles, and I am pleased that she will be overseeing the very capable attorneys and staff who work in our Family Division.”

DOJ’s Family Division is responsible for adjudication of juveniles in Family Court; prosecution of child dependency and neglect cases; securing and enforcing child support orders; enforcing truancy laws; and overseeing the work of DOJ’s ombudsman for school bullying incidents.

Layton takes over the Family Division director position on January 9, 2017, when current director LaKresha Roberts becomes the new Chief Deputy for the Department of Justice.

Attorney General Matt Denn announced that Deputy Attorney General Aaron Goldstein has been tapped as State Solicitor in charge of the Civil Division of the Department of Justice, and Deputy Attorney General LaKresha Roberts will become director of DOJ’s Family Division.

A graduate of the University of Delaware and Widener University School of Law, Goldstein has been with the Department of Justice since 2004, including serving as assistant head of the Government Services Unit, and most recently, head of the Department’s Health Law Unit.  Prior to working at the Department of Justice, he worked in a private law firm, in the New Castle County Office of Law, the City of Wilmington Law Department and as an Assistant Public Defender. He was chosen as a Henry Toll Fellow by the Council of State Governments in 2011.

Roberts graduated from Pace University and the Widener University School of Law, and joined the Department of Justice in 2010, where she has worked in the Child Support, Child Protection, Juvenile Delinquency, and most recently, the Domestic Violence Unit. She previously worked for Family Court as a law clerk and as a mediation and arbitration officer. She was selected by the Delaware Business Times as one of their “40 Under 40” for 2015.

“It gives me great pleasure to make these two additions to our leadership team within the department,” said Attorney General Denn. “Aaron has served in a number of capacities in the Civil Division as well as in other government settings providing him experience that is well suited for the State Solicitor role. LaKresha’s career has been based on her passion and compassion for serving Delaware’s children and families and I have been impressed with her judgment. They will both do well in their respective roles.”

Goldstein has already taken the position of State Solicitor, replacing Meredith Tweedie, who moved to Governor Markell’s office. Roberts will replace Family Division director Patricia Dailey Lewis, who is retiring at the end of November after 30 years with the Department of Justice.

“We have had a number of opportunities within the department to honor Patty Dailey Lewis over the last few weeks, including presenting her with a new department award named in honor of Beau Biden,” Attorney General Denn said. “Families and children in Delaware – both in a general sense and in hundreds of specific individual cases – are better off because of Patty’s career and accomplishments, and we will miss her.”

WILMINGTON, Del.- The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council would like to remind everyone that October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

Last year in Delaware, 23,985 domestic violence incidents were reported to law enforcement, and Family Court issued 1,546 orders for Protection From Abuse.

Governor Markell will declare October 2014 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month for the purpose of bringing focus to a crime that affects the health, safety and welfare of thousands of Delawareans. Elected officials and a student gender-based violence prevention advocate will share remarks, followed by Miss Delaware’s story of her own family’s tragic loss due to domestic violence.

The Domestic Violence Coordinating Council and the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence would like to invite you to join domestic violence advocates, law enforcement officers, prosecutors and others at this kick-off event. The Proclamation signing will be held on Monday, October 6, 2014 at 1:00PM in the Governor’s Conference Room on the 12th Floor of the Carvel State Office Building.

For more information about this event, or other Domestic Violence Awareness Month events, please contact the Domestic Violence Coordinating Council or the Delaware Coaliton Against Domestic Violence.

If you are in an abusive relationship, or know someone who is, contact your local 24-hour domestic violence hotline to learn about all of your options, including shelter, legal assistance, support groups, and more. Hotline staff can help you create a safety plan personalized for your situation.

24 Hour Domestic Violence Hotlines & Shelters in Delaware:
New Castle County (bilingual services available): 302-762-6110

Kent & Sussex Counties: 302-422-8058
302-745-9874 (bilingual hotline)

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE

National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline: 1-866-331-9474

Wilmington – Prosecutors today filed additional, more serious charges against three juveniles recently charged with the assault of a 26 year-old Newark-area man who suffers from a neurodevelopmental disorder. The three juveniles were initially arrested by New Castle County Police earlier this month and charged with Offensive Touching, Assault of a Vulnerable Adult, and Conspiracy 3rd Degree after videos appeared on social media websites documenting their alleged assault of the victim.

“It is our responsibility to protect people who cannot protect themselves,” Attorney General Beau Biden said. “Targeting and assaulting a vulnerable victim is especially egregious and those who do so face significant consequences under the law. Every parent needs to talk with their children about this incident and how to prevent these types of crimes.”

After further investigation by the New Castle County Police in consultation with the Delaware Department of Justice, and review of the evidence by prosecutors, Biden’s office today brought additional charges against each of the three juveniles through a petition filed in Family Court. Those additional charges are:
• Hate Crime (felony)
• Crime Against a Vulnerable Adult (felony)
• Conspiracy 2nd Degree (felony)
• Abuse of an Impaired Adult (felony)
• Conspiracy 3rd Degree (misdemeanor)
• Harassment (misdemeanor)
• Assault 3rd Degree (misdemeanor)

One of the 14 year-old juveniles has also been charged with two additional counts of Hate Crime (one felony and one misdemeanor) and Crime against a Vulnerable Adult (one felony and one misdemeanor), and one additional (misdemeanor) count each of Harassment, Offensive Touching, and Abuse of an Impaired Adult.

The three juveniles will be arraigned in Family Court on the new charges, at which time bail will be reviewed. The investigation into these incidents is continuing. Because the cases remain in Delaware Family Court the State continues to withhold the names of the juveniles.

The Delaware Department of Justice reminds the public that a charge is merely an allegation and that the State bears the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.

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