Suspended DATE Officer Facing Multiple Felonies in cigarettes-for-drugs Scheme
A suspended officer with Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement faces five felony charges and one misdemeanor charge following a joint investigation by DATE and Delaware State Police. The felony indictment was secured against 33-year-old Joseph Dominic for trading DATE-controlled cigarette cartons to a third party for drugs and money, according to the Delaware Attorney General’s Office. DATE’s investigation into Dominic’s actions began in October 2023 when supervising officers became suspicious of his handling of seized cartons of cigarettes. Detectives discovered that Dominic had been issued 30 cartons of cigarettes from DATE supervisors in order to provide them to other law enforcement agencies, but instead provided the cartons to an unauthorized third party for sale. The profits from these sales were allegedly shared evenly between Dominic and the third party, whom authorities believe also provided Dominic with illegal drugs. Dominic is also accused of illegally submitting false information in police reports in order to conceal his conduct.
Additional Information from the Delaware Attorney General’s Office:
Attorney General Kathy Jennings and Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement Chief John Yeomans announced Tuesday that the DOJ’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust has secured a felony indictment against a suspended officer with the Delaware Division of Alcohol and Tobacco Enforcement (DATE) for trading DATE-controlled cigarette cartons to a third party for drugs and money.
Joseph Dominic, 33, faces five felony charges and one misdemeanor charge following a joint investigation by DATE and Delaware State Police into his actions.
“Nobody is above the law or beneath justice,” said Attorney General Jennings. “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. We take these cases seriously — they are, in significant part, why we established a permanent Division of Civil Rights & Public Trust. I commend DATE and the Delaware State Police for taking action immediately when they suspected wrongdoing, and am grateful for their leadership in the investigation.”
“Law Enforcement is not immune from addiction,” said DATE Chief John Yeomans. “In this case, our officer succumbed to it, violating laws and failing to uphold the public’s trust. 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.”
DATE’s investigation into Dominic’s actions began in October 2023 when supervising officers became suspicious of his handling of seized cartons of cigarettes. The indictment alleges that DATE supervisors became suspicious about Dominic’s handling of cigarette cartons that were issued to him. DATE leadership called in the Delaware State Police to help investigate Dominic’s actions.
Detectives discovered that Dominic had been issued 30 cartons of cigarettes from DATE supervisors in order to provide them to other law enforcement agencies, but instead provided the cartons to an unauthorized third party for sale. The profits from these sales were allegedly shared evenly between Dominic and the third party, whom authorities believe also provided Dominic with illegal drugs. Dominic is also accused of illegally submitting false information in police reports in order to conceal his conduct.
Dominic faces felony charges of Official Misconduct, Theft, Theft by False Pretense, Conspiracy Second Degree, and Tampering with Public Records First Degree, and a misdemeanor charge of Illegal Possession of a Controlled Substance.
The DOJ reminds the public that an indictment is merely an allegation and is not evidence of guilt. Defendants are presumed innocent and are entitled to a jury trial at which the State bears the burden of proving each charge beyond a reasonable doubt.
