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2 time Delaware agent of the year indicted with trading cigarettes for drugs and money

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2 time Delaware agent of the year indicted with trading cigarettes for drugs and money


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A Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement officer has been charged with trading cigarette cartons for drugs and money, the state Department of Justice said.

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Joseph Dominic, 33, faces five felony counts and one misdemeanor charge following a joint investigation by the state Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement (DATE) and Delaware State Police.

It’s not known how long Dominic has been with DATE, but according to a state website, he was the division’s agent of the year in 2022 when he was a corporal and 2018 when he was a patrolman. A statement by the Justice Department said Dominic is suspended from the force, which enforces Delaware’s state liquor and youth access to tobacco laws.

“Nobody is above the law or beneath justice,” Delaware Attorney General Jennings said in a statement. “Misconduct by public officials is not just wrong by virtue of the crime itself — it also erodes public trust and dishonors the good work of the overwhelming majority of law-abiding public servants.”

Jennings commended DATE and the Delaware State Police for taking action after suspecting wrongdoing.

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DATE’s investigation into his actions began in October when his supervising officers became suspicious of his handling of seized cartons of cigarettes and launched an investigation along with the Delaware State Police.

The indictment claims 30 cigarette cartons were issued to Dominic, who was to provide them to other law enforcement agencies. Neither the Department of Justice or DATE explained why these cigarette cartons were being provided to other law enforcement agencies.

Instead of providing the cigarette cartons to other law agencies, investigators said Dominic provided them to a third party for sale. The profits from these sales were shared between Dominic and the third party, whom authorities believe also provided Dominic with illegal drugs.

The Department of Justice did not immediately explain who the third party was or if charges had been filed against them. Investigators said Dominic submitted false information in police reports to conceal his actions.

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Dominic faces felony charges of official misconduct, theft, second-degree conspiracy and tampering with public records. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of illegal possession of a controlled substance.  

While the Justice Department did not say exactly when the investigation began, on Oct. 19, Dominic was charged with possession of a controlled substance, according to court records obtained by Delaware Online/The News Journal.

It’s not clear from the single-page document where he was arrested or what prompted the arrest, but documents say he had four 40 mg Percocet pills in his front right “small pocket.” 

Authorities have not said if this arrest is connected with the recent indictment, though other court documents show that in November, the drug arrest was moved to a court date “for consolidation/judicial review purposes.”

The next hearing in that case is set for March, documents show.

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Authorities appear to point to the officer having substance abuse issues as DATE Chief John Yeomans explained in a statement how law enforcement is not immune from addiction.

“In this case, our officer succumbed to it, violating laws and failing to uphold the public’s trust,” Yeomans said. “When the officer’s actions were uncovered, we took appropriate steps by initiating a criminal investigation in collaboration with the Delaware Attorney General’s Office. We understand the seriousness of this matter and want to assure the public that we are taking all necessary measures.”

Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com. Got a tip? Send to Isabel Hughes at ihughes@delawareonline.com or 302-324-2785. For all things breaking news, follow her on X at @izzihughes_

Other news: Ex-Smyrna officer charged with possessing child pornography hires ‘Inventing Anna’ lawyer



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Delaware

Local police departments earn state accreditation

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Local police departments earn state accreditation


The Delaware Police Officer Standards and Training Commission recently announced that the Dewey Beach Police Department and Rehoboth Beach Police Department have both earned state accreditation from the Delaware Police Accreditation Commission.

As part of the rigorous process, a team of DPAC assessors ensured all accreditation standards were met by completing comprehensive, on-site inspections of each agency, reviewing their policies and procedures for compliance, and conducting interviews with department members. 

“This milestone represents a significant step forward for public safety in Delaware. The initial state accreditation of these police agencies reflects a strong commitment to professionalism, accountability and excellence in law enforcement. I commend each department for their dedication to serving their communities with integrity and for upholding the highest standards,” said Joshua Bushweller, Department of Safety and Homeland Security secretary and DPAC chair.



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DDA inducts three Delaware Century Farms – 47abc

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DDA inducts three Delaware Century Farms – 47abc


Dover, Del. – Three farms, one from each of Delaware’s counties, were inducted into the Century Farm Program by the state Department of Agriculture on Thursday at the Delaware Agricultural Museum.

Each of the family farms has been owned and operated for at least a century. Each received a sign for their farms, an engraved plate and legislative tributes.

In addition to Secretary of Agriculture, Don Clifton, and Deputy Secretary Jimmy Kroon, state Senators David Wilson (R – District 18) and Kyra Hoffner (D – District 14) were also in attendance.

Wright Family Farms are located in Harrington in Kent County. In 1919, the farm was purchased by William Wright. Over a century later, William’s grandson, Ronald, is the owner and his great-grandson, Greg, said he hopes to continue the family legacy by buying the farm from his father. 

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Although the event celebrated each family for their hard work and resilience, it also highlighted the challenges farmers have to surmount to stay in business today, let alone for a hundred years.

“The price of equipment, the price of fertilizer, the price of seed, everything is just gone up,” Greg said. “So, you know, everything’s going up that we gotta purchase just to stay in business.”

Clifton, Kroon and Wilson also echoed difficulties in balancing the need to preserve agricultural land with the need to develop housing and sustainable energy projects like solar power.

“I know housing is very important, and we want people to always have good housing, but at some point, I think you’re going to saturate the area with more houses than you have food to feed these people,” Wilson said.

Kroon also said there are difficulties in keeping future generations motivated to stay in farming.

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“When you think about it in the context of multi-generational farm families, there’s a real long-term challenge where a new generation may think twice about whether they want to keep farming if it’s always a struggle,” he said.

Clifton said farming has always been a challenging way of life, but it has been so since time immemorial.

“These families, their experience shows that they have an appreciation for the way of life and perseverance and that’s to be honored and emulated to the greatest extent possible,” he said.

Greg said he hopes to pass down the way of life so that his family legacy can live on for another hundred years, as well as for other families.

“A hundred years as the same family tilling the land, that’s, you know, that’s an honor right there,” Greg said. “And I hope that more farmers who are close to 100 years old will be doing the same thing. You know, keep it in the family.”

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Investigation underway after man’s body pulled from Delaware River

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Investigation underway after man’s body pulled from Delaware River


An investigation is underway after police said a man’s body was pulled from the Delaware River in South Philadelphia.

According to police, around 9 a.m. on Friday, April 17, 2026, emergency responders pulled an unidentified man from the Delaware River, near the Navy Yard. Medic’s pronounced the man dead at 9:11 a.m.

Léelo en español aquí.

SkyForce10 flew above as police and other first responders were on the scene.

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Police are working to determine the circumstances of the incident and identify the man.

This is a developing story; check back here for updates.



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