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Former Wilmington City Council president indicted for alleged financial misconduct

Delaware Public Media
Theopalis Gregory

Former Wilmington City Council President Theo Gregory is accused of abusing his office for financial gain.

The Delaware Department of Justice’s Office of Civil Rights and Public Trust says a grand jury indicted Gregory on profiteering and official misconduct charges.

The Dept. of Justice claims Gregory reactivated Student Disability Advocates, a long dormant nonprofit he controlled in October 2016. It alleges he then told his successor, City Council President Hanifa Shabazz, after the November 2016 election that $40,000 in Wilmington’s city budget was earmarked for his group and pressured her to approve his funding request.

State prosecutors also allege the former council president funneled the money through the Police Athletic League of Wilmington because Student Disability Advocates lacked non-profit status at that time. Gregory acknowledges personally receiving at least $15,000 of the money.

A state audit and independent investigation found Gregory’s actions violated Wilmington city code, and he admitted to that earlier this year.