Contact: Julia Lawes – 302-577-8901

Murder Plea, Four More Pleas in Racketeering Case

Deputy Attorneys General Dan McBride and Eric Towne secured a guilty plea for murder from a 39-year-old Wilmington man. Thomas Hollingsworth pled guilty to two counts of Murder 2nd and one count of PFDCF, with open sentencing. Hollingsworth is facing a minimum of 35 years in prison when he is sentenced by a Superior Court judge on January 25, 2019. Hollingsworth was charged with the shooting deaths of Ainsley Cumberbatch and Jamil Congo on North Market Street in Wilmington in February 2017.

Four more defendants charged in a Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) case involving racketeering, drug dealing, and money laundering, recently pled guilty and received prison sentences. A grand jury handed up a 151-count indictment in October 2017 against 54 co-defendants operating as part of a criminal enterprise doing business in Wilmington between January 2015 and October 2017. Some of the defendants involved in the case were charged federally last week. DOJ staff Shanaya Eyong and Shannon Daniels have been instrumental in assisting the prosecutors with the case. Deputy Attorneys General Mark Denney and Annemarie Puit prosecuted the following cases in state court:

• Harold Ellington, 51, of New Castle, pled guilty to charges of Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering, Drug Dealing Cocaine and Money Laundering, with a sentence from a Superior Court judge of 28 years prison time suspended after 3 years for 2 years and 6 months of Probation.
• Lawrence Flowers, 26, of Newark, pled guilty to Conspiracy Second Degree and Drug Dealing Heroin, with a sentence from a Superior Court judge of 12 years prison time suspended for 21 months of probation.
• Richard Ellington, 54, of New Castle, pled guilty to two counts of Conspiracy Second Degree and one count of Money Laundering, and was sentenced by a Superior Court judge to 12 years prison time suspended for 1 year of probation.
• Nakisha Jones, 42, of New Castle, pled guilty to Conspiracy 3rd and received 1 year in prison suspended for 6 months of probation from a Superior Court judge.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Julia Lawes – 302-577-8901

Conviction, Sentence In Two Separate Kent County Murders

Robbery, Rape of Child, Strangulation, and Rape At College Also Resolved

A Kent County Superior Court judge found Daiquan T. Bordley guilty of Murder First Degree, Robbery First Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Conspiracy Second Degree following a week-long bench trial. Deputy Attorneys General Lindsay Taylor and Alicia Porter prosecuted the case with help of Detective Dan Grassi, paralegal Sue Balik, social workers Kerry McElwee and Esther Powell, and administrative assistants Gina Chambers and Sam Huey. Judge Witham found that Bordley killed Dontray Hendricks, shooting him in the chest at close range after Hendricks had been lured to Port Mahon with the plan of robbing him. Two conspirators of Bordley — Zhyhee Harmon and Chelsea Braunskill — previously pled guilty for their roles in the crime. Bordley will be sentenced by a Superior Court judge in October.

A 53-year old Felton woman was sentenced to 22 years in prison for the death of her grandson in Felton.  In September 2016, Angela Mossinger-Bingham suffocated the 3-year old, before repeatedly and unsuccessfully attempting to take her own life.  Mossinger-Bingham pled guilty to Murder in the 2^nd Degree and a Superior Court judge sentenced her to 22 years in prison followed by work release, home confinement, and probation. The plea and sentence was the result of evaluating the reports of multiple mental health experts and weighing their impact upon the defendant’s moral culpability. Deputy Attorneys General Marie Graham and Stephen Smith prosecuted the case, with Detective Jon King of the Delaware State Police as lead investigator.  DOJ social worker Kerry McElwee, Administrative Assistant Crystal Kahn, and paralegal Sue Balik assisted on the case.

Delgene Ray, a 23-year-old Townsend man, was sentenced by a Superior Court judge to 18 months in prison followed by 6 months of home confinement, on convictions for Robbery in the Second Degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child.  In May 2017, Ray approached a woman in a restaurant parking lot in New Castle, after she had put her child in her vehicle.  He attempted to rip her purse from her shoulder and a struggle ensued.  The victim fell to the ground and the robber left the scene with her stolen purse.  A review of surveillance video from local businesses resulted in the identification of Ray, and he was located and arrested.  Deputy Attorney General Matthew Bloom prosecuted the case.

A Superior Court judge sentenced John Young, a 25-year-old man from Bridgeville, to 25 years in prison followed by 15 years of probation for sexually abusing a child. Deputy Attorney General Casey L. Ewart secured a guilty plea from Young to Rape 2^nd Degree and Contempt of Court for performing oral sex on a 7-year-old girl in January 2018 and violating a no contact order that had been imposed by the Court.  As a result of this conviction, Young is required to register as a Tier III sex offender for the rest of his life.  Det. Christopher Story of the Laurel Police Department was the chief investigating officer for this case, and the prosecution was assisted by DOJ administrative specialist Angelique Waters, paralegal Veronica McKain, and social worker Carla Ennals.

George Bishop, 37 of Newark pled guilty to Strangulation, Tampering with a Witness, and Assault 3^rd, In December 2017, Bishop assaulted his girlfriend by punching, strangling, and pouring bleach on her. Following initial charges, Bishop violated a protective order, which led to additional charges. Deputy Attorney General Anna Currier prosecuted the case assisted by DOJ social worker Stacey Murphy.  He will be sentenced by a Superior Court judge in December.

Deputy Attorney General Jan van Amerongen secured a guilty plea from Jason Kramer, who pled to Rape Fourth Degree. Kramer, a 20-year-old man from Wilmington, will be sentenced by a Superior Court judge in November and faces up to 15 years in prison. The rape occurred in the spring of 2017 on University of Delaware’s campus, where Kramer was a student at the time.

For Immediate Release

Please Contact: Julia Lawes, 302-577-8901

Charges of Attempted Murder, Robbery, Assault, Burglary, Vehicle Death In Various Cases Result in Pleas, Convictions, Prison

Jonathan Dryburgh, a 24-year-old Florida man, pled guilty to Attempted Murder, Robbery 2nd, Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony, Resisting Arrest, and Possession of a Firearm by a Person Prohibited, and sentenced by a Superior Court judge to 31 years in prison.  In July 2017, Dryburgh walked onto a property in Westover Hills in Wilmington and grabbed a victim’s purse from under her feet while she was on the phone.  As police who responded searched the area for suspects based on witness descriptions, they attempted to stop Dryburgh in the area of Greenhill Avenue. As Dryburgh was fleeing, he shot at the pursuing the New Castle County officer. Deputy Attorney General Matt Frawley prosecuted the case.

A 24-year-old Middletown man pled guilty to Robbery First Degree and Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony. A Superior Court judge immediately sentenced Todd Miller to a 3-year prison term.  In September 2017, Miller entered the M&T Bank in Middletown disguised in a hat and large sunglasses, and handed the teller a note demanding money.  The teller gave Miller an envelope of cash and he fled.  Miller was known to local law enforcement, who were able to positively identify him in surveillance footage. Deputy Attorney General Phil Cassel secured the plea.

A Superior Court judge sentenced a Wilmington man to 5 years in  prison for Assault 2nd Degree, Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony, and Act of Intimidation. Deputy Attorney General Zach Rosen secured the sentence for 20-year-old Daseonne Jones, with the assistance of DOJ Investigator Willy Santiago, Social Worker Courtney Cochran, and Paralegal Jessica Ascione. In May 2017 Wilmington police responded to a call for a shooting in the area of Elliot’s Way, and were told by witnesses that the shooter, who had shot the victim in the head resulting in a minor wound; had fled on a bicycle.  Jones was identified and later taken into custody. The prison time will be followed by two and a half years of probation.

Two Kent County men, 33 year-old Joshua Wilson of Harrington and 37-year-old David Sharp of Felton, pled guilty to charges of Burglary 3rd Degree and Maintaining a Clandestine Laboratory for entering a vacant house and manufacturing methamphetamine.  Deputy Attorney General Sean Motoyoshi prosecuted this case.  A Superior Court judge ordered an 18-month prison sentence to Sharp, along with drug treatment and probation.  Wilson will be sentenced by a judge in September and could be sentenced as a habitual offender based on previous convictions for drug dealing, strangulation, aggravated menacing and robbery.

Deputy Attorneys General Kathleen Dickerson and Kevin Smith secured a guilty verdict in a bench trial for Leaving the Scene of a Collision Causing Death and Failure to Report a Collision Causing Death for a 36-year-old Felton man.   Nathan Jester was operating a vehicle, which struck and killed Roger Coberly on Willow Grove Road in western Kent County in September 2017.  Jester fled the scene after the collision, later claiming that he thought he had struck a deer. A Superior Court judge returned verdicts of guilty on both charges. Jester will be sentenced in September and faces at least 6 months in prison. Sgt. John Wheatley of the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit and DOJ social worker Lorraine Freese worked on the case.

A Superior Court judge sentenced a 36-year-old Wilmington man to 12 years in prison followed by probation for several violent and non-violent felony crimes. Deputy Attorney General Kelly Sheridan secured the guilty plea and prison sentence from Brandon Brown for Aggravated Menacing, Robbery 2nd Degree, two counts of Burglary 3rd Degree, Conspiracy 2nd Degree, and Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony. In early 2017, Brown stole thousands of dollars’ worth of cigarettes and other items from several convenience stores throughout New Castle County. Due to previous felony convictions on burglary, theft, forgery and weapons charges, Brown was sentenced as a habitual offender. DOJ paralegal Julie Caputo and social worker Crystal Pitts worked on the case, and Delaware State Police Detective Christian Hevelow was the chief investigator.

Child Pornography, Drug, and Weapons Offenses also resolved

A Superior Court jury convicted a 37-year-old Laurel man of Home Invasion, two counts of Assault 3rd Degree, Theft Less Than $1500, Criminal Mischief Less Than $1500, six counts of Breach of Release, two counts of Act of Intimidation, and Conspiracy 2nd Degree. In February 2017, Seaford officers were dispatched to a domestic violence situation where they witnessed Anthony Morris physically assaulting a woman in a motel parking lot. Officers learned that Morris had also damaged her vehicle and stolen cash and a debit card from her. After being released on bond with a no-contact order in place, Morris forced his way into the woman’s home and attacked her again. Morris was charged with additional offenses while his case was pending because he continued to violate his no-contact orders with the victim in an attempt to persuade her not to go forward with the charges against him. Morris was sentenced to a total of 12 years in prison followed by 1 year of work release, and 2 years of probation. Deputy Attorney General Casey L. Ewart prosecuted the case and was assisted by social worker Carla Ennals, paralegal Veronica McKain, and administrative specialist Angelique Waters.

A Wilmington man who was on probation received significant prison time for second offense child pornography charges. A New Castle County Superior Court judge sentenced 33-year-old Lyle Jervey to 15 years in prison followed by 5 years and 6 months of probation for five counts of Dealing in Child Pornography. In May 2017, a tip led Probation and Parole Officers to Jervey’s residence where they found him in possession of a smartphone with internet access in violation of his probation conditions. A forensic examination revealed that he used the phone for viewing child pornography. This was Jervey’s second conviction for child pornography in the last ten years. He was ordered to register as a Tier III sex offender. The case was investigated by Detective Paul Simonds of the Wilmington Police Department with assistance by the Delaware Child Predator Task Force.

A 40-year-old Harrington man who was charged with Drug and Weapons offenses, pled guilty to Conspiracy 2nd Degree and Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony. A search warrant was executed at a home in the 100 block of Woodville Drive in Magnolia where Delaware State Police found multiple suspects along with heroin, cocaine, marijuana, weapons, and drug paraphernalia. Allen Simms, one of the defendants found at the scene of the search warrant execution, was sentenced to a total of 5 years in prison by a Kent County Superior Court judge. Deputy Attorney General Greg Babowal prosecuted this case.

The Delaware Child Predator Task Force secured a prison sentence for a Smyrna man for child pornography in Kent County Superior Court. The investigation revealed Lincoln Huntoon, 35, was in possession of child pornography on multiple electronic devices. Huntoon was sentenced by a Superior Court judge to 4 years in prison followed by 3 years of probation for two counts of Dealing in Child Pornography and two counts of Possession of Child Pornography. In addition, Huntoon was ordered to register as a Tier II sex offender.

Rape of Teen, Illegal Weapon In Prison Also Lead To Prison Sentences

A Superior Court judge sentenced a 36-year-old Wilmington man to 12 years in prison followed by probation for a robbery and burglary spree of convenience and cigarette stores. Deputy Attorney General Kelly Sheridan secured the guilty plea and prison sentence from Brandon Brown for Aggravated Menacing, Robbery 2nd Degree, two counts of Burglary 3rd Degree, Conspiracy 2nd Degree, and Wearing a Disguise During the Commission of a Felony. In early 2017, Brown stole thousands of dollars’ worth of cigarettes and other items from several convenience stores throughout New Castle County. Due to previous felony convictions on drug and weapons charges, Brown was sentenced as a habitual offender. DOJ paralegal Julie Caputo and social worker Crystal Pitts worked on the case, and Delaware State Police Detective Christian Hevelow was the chief investigator.

A Wilmington man faces at least 3 years in prison after pleading guilty to Robbery 1st Degree for a bank robbery. In November 2017, Joseph Perkins, 24, entered Fulton Bank on Kirkwood Highway, disguised as a woman, and handed a teller a note demanding money and threatening to kill her coworkers if she did not comply with his demands. Deputy Attorney General Nichole Warner, Paralegal Julie Caputo, and Social Worker Kristen Fluharty worked on the case. Perkins also pled guilty at the same time to a separate burglary charge for vehicle break-ins. Sentencing by a Superior Court judge is scheduled for August 31, 2018.

Deputy Attorney General Amanda DiLiberto secured a guilty plea from a 31-year-old Wilmington man on Promoting Prison Contraband and Possession of a Deadly Weapon by a Person Prohibited. In 2017, prison guards found Eric Holmes in possession of a “shank” during a strip search while incarcerated at James T. Vaughn Correctional Center in Smyrna for a prior weapons offense. As part of the plea, Holmes agreed that he is eligible to be sentenced as a habitual offender because of previous convictions for assault and weapons charges. Holmes faces at least 3 additional years in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for July 20, 2018 by a Superior Court judge. Paralegal Julie Caputo and Administrative Assistant Terri Antonio assisted with the case.

A 22-year-old man pled guilty to two counts of Rape 4th Degree and one count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child and was sentenced by a Kent County Superior Court judge to one year in prison followed by probation. In late 2017, Zepplin Ray Taylor-McGinness, then 21 years old, was harboring a 14-year-old runaway he met online and had sex with her while she stayed with him in Dover. Deputy Attorney General Kathleen Dickerson prosecuted this case.