The News Journal from Wilmington, Delaware • Page 5

SATURDAY, APRIL 8. 1995 THE NEWS JOURNAL A5 IN THE REGION from News Journal staff and wire service reports. Delaware Judge: No new trial for murderer WILMINGTON A Superior Court judge has denied a condemned murderer's request for a new trial, rejecting the argument that his trial attorneys were ineffective. Cornelius Edward Ferguson, 31, was convicted of the 1991 shooting and killing of Troy Hodges during a drug deal gone bad in the parking lot of the Tri State Mall. His conviction and death sentence were upheld by the state Supreme Court.

Ferguson then filed the request, which was denied by Superior Court Judge Richard S. Gebelein in an opinion released Friday. A new execution date has not been scheduled. South Chapel Street closed today NEWARK Motorists are asked to avoid South Chapel Street near the center of town for approximately eight hours today while workers replace a damaged utility pole, said Dennis G. Smith, Newark Electric Department director.

Smith said South Chapel Street will be closed between Main Street and Delaware Avenue beginning at 7 a.m. Robber sentenced to 10 years WILMINGTON A city man who pleaded guilty to five charges of first-degree robbery in February was sentenced Friday in Superior Court to 10 years in prison. John R. DuPree, 30, formerly of the 800 block N. Clayton had been involved in robberies of local businesses in the spring and summer of 1994.

'Raid' tests Dover troops' skills The News EMEIGH Airman 1st Class Joe Highland of the 436th Civil Engineering Squadron, is equipped for a chemical weapons attack as he guards a control point during a simulated bombing attack at Dover AFB Friday. DOVER Two A-10 "Warthog" attack planes swooped low over Dover Air Force Base Friday in a mock raid on troops camped in a remote corner of the airfield. The "at- tack" by Maryland Air National Guard aircraft was part of a long-running exercise designed to test both active duty and reserve forces stationed at the airlift center. Security was stepped up at all three gates as men and women confronted problems ranging from simulated crashes to protest demonstrations. Troops simulated gunfights and attacks with training explosives and blank ammunition.

Maryland Senate OKs 'revolving-door bill' ANNAPOLIS The state Senate narrowly approved a compromise bill Friday that would bar former legislators from lobbying the General Assembly for one session after they leave office. The House is also expected to approve. SB181, dubbed the "revolving-door bill," was introduced after an unusually large number of former legislators turned to lobbying this year. Critics contend a lawmaker who plans to leave office could line up work with a private company by acting favorably on legislation sought by the company. Pennsylvania Police dispatchers resume posts PHILADELPHIA Five months after they became symbols for problems with Philadelphia's 911 emergency system, the six police dispatchers fired or suspended in the wake of a teen's fatal beating won back their jobs.

The decision came from the American Arbitration Association. The administration is expected to appeal. Loud devotees barred from church GREENSBURG Two women who prayed the rosary loudly may not attend their Roman Catholic church unless their priest lets them, a judge ruled Friday. The church had sued the women, saying they frightened schoolchildren and drowned out the choir by saying loud, raucous prayers and splashing holy water during services. New Jersey Highway killer receives 10 years JERSEY CITY A Jersey City youth who dropped a 16-pound bowling ball off a highand killed an infant riding in a way overpass car below was sentenced Friday to 10 years in prison.

Calvin Settle, must serve four before he can be paroled. On March 3, a years jury found Settle guilty reckless manslaughter. TODAY Highlights in the news DAY CARE CENTER CELEBRATES: The Georgetown Day Care Center, North Bedford Street, Georgetown, celebrates its 25th anniversary with an open house and reunion from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. RECOGNITION FOR STUDENTS: During the first Black History Awards Luncheon, at the Madison Center, Wilmington, The NAACP-Wilmington Branch and the Pepsi-Cola Co.

will. honor students and present a scholarship. POLICE FIRE REPORT By staff reporters Ann Manser and Terry Spencer WILMINGTON MAN IN CAR ROBBED: A Chester, man was robbed Friday as he sat in his parked car near 30th and Market streets about 1:30 p.m., city police said. The 24-year-old man told officers a man walked up, told him he had a gun and ordered him to hand over his wallet, jacket and ring. The robber took the items and fled.

No one was injured. WOMAN, TEENS ARRESTED: A 40-year-old woman and two teen-age boys have been arrested on charges of drug dealing, police said Friday. Drug officers searched a home in the 1200 block of W. Sixth St. on Wednesday and seized 8.8 grams (about oneounce) of cocaine, a small amount of marijuana, $755 cash and a cellular phone, police said.

Theresa Jackson, of that address, and the two teen-agers were charged with trafficking and intending to deliver cocaine, maintaining a dwelling for the sale or use of drugs and conspiracy. NEW CASTLE COUNTY DRIVER, 79, HURT: A 79-year-old Alapocas man was seriously injured Friday in a two-car collision near his home. State police said Charles D. Couch, of the 100 block of Edgewood Road, was driving south on U.S. 202 about 9 a.m.

when his collided with a northbound car turning left onto Augustine Cut-off. Couch and the other driver, Iris V. Crosse, 17, of the 2900 block of N. Franklin St. in Wilmington, were taken to Christiana Hospital.

Couch was admitted in critical condition with head injuries, police said. Crosse was treated for cuts and BOGUS BILLS USED: A Claymont woman has been charged with passing counterfeit money at Tri-State Mall, state police said Friday. About 8 p.m. Wednesday, the manager of the Payless shoe store told a trooper that a woman had just paid with a phony $100 bill. When troopers spotted the suspect at a nearby bus stop, she had four other bogus bills two $100s and two $50s, police said.

Gertrude Parke, 22, of the 200 block of Dewey Court in Stoneybrook, was turned over to U.S. Secret Service agents to face federal charges. 81 BUSES STOPPED: State police commercial-vehicle inspectors stopped 81 interstate buses at a checkpoint on 1-95 at the service area near Christiana over a 12-hour period Thursday and Friday. The safety inspections, part of a program that targets trucks and other commercial vehicles, found equipment problems most commonly faulty brakes in 21 of the buses. The drivers were not ticketed but were required to have the problems fixed before leaving the service plaza.

2ND MAN CHARGED IN BEATING DEATH: A second man was charged with first-degree murder Friday in the beating death of a Holloway Terrace man. Daryl G. Andrus, 42, had been charged with hindering prosecution for his alleged part in Wednesday's killing of James W. Dilley 44, his roommate. But New Castle County detectives Friday said Andrus joined Jeffrey Fogg, 33, in beating Dilley after a fight at a party.

The men then put Dilley's body in the bathtub and told officers he died of natural causes, police said. Andrus and Fogg, who was charged Wednesday with firstdegree murder, are being held at Gander Hill Prison without bail. BIRTHS CHRISTIANA Baldwin Dodi and James, Alloway, N.J., April 6, daughter. Dixon Detreona New Castle, April 6, daughter. Finnegan Kathleen and (John Wilmington, April 4, son.

Freebery Denise, Newark, April 6, son. Goodman Dawn, Newark, April 6, daughter. Hankins Nancy and Gary, Pennsville, N.J., April 6, daugh- Hughes Judy and Mark, Wilmington, April 6, daughter. Kudla Cynthia and Joseph, North Wales, April son. Longacre Nicole and Frank, Elkton, April 6, daughter.

Odum Jodie and Jeffrey, Oxford, April 6, daughter. Potts Kelly, Newport, April 6, son. Prueitt Annette and Robert, Rising Sun, April 6, daughter. Rupert Elizabeth and Eric, New Castle, April 6, son. Siple Lynne and Laurence, Wilmington, April 6, son.

Trala Robin and William, Chesapeake City, April 6, daughter. Williams Kathleen and Stephen, Newark, April 6, daughter. ST. FRANCIS Bernier Sharon and John, 45 Robinson Drive, New Castle, MARRIAGE LICENSES NEW CASTLE COUNTY Stuart B. and Marie A.

Hedden, Wilmington. Hemming, Francis J. Dennis and Margaret C. Rosado, both of New Castle. Thomas J.

Welch Jr. and Amy L. Thomas, both of Newark. Dominick M. Facciola Wilmington, and Kimberly A.

Eline, Lima, Pa. Dennis S. Dobies and Mary E. Balko, both of Newark. Andre D.

Taylor, Wilmington, and Shavon Wilks, Newport. Frediswindo Rodriguez and Sonia L. Lorenzo, both of Wilmington. Dennis J. Carradin and Karen S.

Tyndall, both of Wilmington. James M. Hiesler and Kimberly G. Paternoster, both of Claymont. Steven Jay Walker and Kimberly Ann Calcaterra, both of Wilmington.

Paul J. Wolinski and Cynthia A. Moore, of New Castle. PUBLIC DIARY The News Journal's daily record of public information. Births: Daily Lotteries: Daily Court Proceedings: Marriage licenses: Wednesday and Friday Thursday (Kent, Sussex, (New Castle County only), New Castle counties), Sunday (all counties) Saturday (New Castle, CrimeStoppers: Monday Cecil counties) Divorces: As available Police Report: Daily Fire Calls: Daily MAN IN BURNING CAR IDENTIFIED: A Mill Creek man was identified Friday as the person found this week in a burning car near Delaware City.

The body of Kenneth G. Chance, 36, of the 4800 block of Weatherhill Drive, was found Wednesday night by Port Penn firefighters who had gone to the area along the south bank of the Chesapeake Delaware Canal to battle a marsh fire. State police said Friday they have not determined whether Chance was a victim of a homicide, accident or committed suicide. KENT COUNTY 3 HURT IN CRASH: A was arrested after a two-car accident injured himself and two other people. Dwayne A.

Holden, 20, hit the back of a Deidra L. Wilson, 21, of Hartly, about 8 the intersection of Kent routes 104 and said. Both drivers and a passenger Rose M. Wilson, 46, also of Hartly, various injuries at Kent General charged Holden driving while assault, driving with a revoked license drinking. CECIL COUNTY, Md.

Camden-area man near Dover that A car driven by vehicle driven by p.m. Thursday at 158, state police in Wilson's car, were treated for Hospital. Police intoxicated, vehicular and underage VANDALISM: State police said Friday they are investigating several recent incidents of vandalism to vehicles in the North East area. Wednesday night, police said, a rock was thrown through the rear window of a van in a driveway on Red Toad Road. Last week, rocks were thrown through windows of nine vehicles parked along the streets of nearby Lakeside Trailer Park, police said.

MARYLAND DRIVE-BY SHOOTING: Salisbury police were searching Friday for four suspects in a drive-by shooting. Police said that at 2:10 p.m. Thursday, a car on Vine Street near Roger Street was fired at by the suspects, who were in another car. The suspects were using two 9mm handguns and shots struck the victim's car and two nearby homes. No one was hit.

To report information, call (410) 548-3165. PENNSYLVANIA ACCUSED IN KILLING: A Kennett Square man has been charged with robbing and killing a man whose body was found in the woods north of Avondale last week. State police said Keith E. Crampton, 21, was arrested Wednesday and charged with criminal homicide, robbery and related offenses in the death of Nicholas Santoya, 21, of the Toughkenamon or Kennett Square area. A person walking in the woods off Hepburn Road, about a half-mile west of Pennsylvania 41 (Newport-Gap Pike), found Santoya's body March 26, police said.

They declined to release details. April 5, daughter. Fuller Sheeron and James Jordan, 217 N. Du Pont Wilmington, April 6, daughter. Miller Kesha and Jermaine Stanford, 1209 W.

Second April 6, daughter. Ondriezek Traci and John Dixon, New Castle, April 6, daughter. MILFORD Bradfordarch 25, son. Georgenna, MillsFreeman Lakisha, Lincoln, March 29, daughter. Johnson Margie and David, Ellendale, March 27, daughter.

Prettyman Shirley and Samuel, Delmar, March 24, son. Del. Christopher Lee Martz Sr. and Maureen Mary Beck, both of Lancaster, Pa. Dennis F.

Long and Karen C. Jubb, both of Baltimore County. Earl B. Cooper, Beverly, N.J., and Cynthia L. Claret, Philadelphia.

John M. Sassi and Lori L. Peterson, both of Salem, N.J. Donald A. Catalano and Sonia L.

Barriera, of East Stroudsburg, Pa. Anthony White and Darcell Y. Jacobs, both of Quy-Ngoc Nguyen, and Mytuyet Tang, Wheaton. Michael R. Wing and Lois A.

Smith, both of Easton, Pa. Michael G. Bogue Jr. and Geraldine C. Ragen, both of Philadelphia.

Eddie Gutierrez, and Mariluz Santos, Landing, N.J. Robert F. Greenplate Jr. and Mary Wayne L. Wilson and Tina N.

Robertson, both of Newark. Kevin L. Stewart and Magdalena Hickey, both of Wilmington. Alvin Williams Bridgeton, N.J., and Janelle N. Stone, Penns Grove, N.J.

Glen D. Blood and Glenna M. Schwartz, both of Wilmington. Bruce T. Maichle Jr.

and Jennifer N. Strahle, both of Wilmington. Donald Redmond and Arlene E. Johnston, both of New Castle. William D.

Kocher, Newark, Traci A. Richmond, Clayton. Otis L. Evans and Jacquelyn A. Shipman, both of New Castle.

John K. Andrews and Nancy P. Lynch, both of Baltimore. Drake M. Cattermole and Lucinda C.

Carpenter, both of Wilmington. CECIL COUNTY Randy Keith Willis and Trellene Marie Blankenship, both of Bear, Volunteer, forced checks. Appoquinimink state-wide for District school did volunteers, adopt the but 80, charged and said District passed Friday the Ruffin Superintendent background had no Freeman check. criminal Williams record in rape of Sen. sponsored David the P.

bill, Sokola, said D- Friday North that Star, legisla- who tors, educators and law enforcement officials student, 13 have ment foolproof. agreed policies that Districts prohibiting background instead volunteers checks should are imple- from not being left alone with students. By TERRY SPENCER "Many of the incidents at schools are Staff reporter committed people who have never been TOWNSEND An 80-year-old elemen- arrested Sokola said. "Background checks wouldn't stop them." tary school volunteer is in Gander Hill Prison for allegedly raping a 13-year-old ac- Ruffin was arrested Feb. 27.

County police quaintance in an off-campus incident. did not release the information until Friday after inquiries by The News Journal. James Ruffin, who was part of a foster grandparents program at Townsend ElemenMaj. Sherry Freebury said the victim's School, assaulted the girl in her home, family information asked to not release the the detective tary to the news media. New Castle County Police said Friday.

He did not meet her through the school. Freebury said because Ruffin is not related to the victim, the information should A bill exempting school volunteers from have been released. the criminal background checks given Ruffin is charged with first-degree unlawschool employees unanimously passed the ful sexual intercourse, first-degree unlawful state Senate Tuesday and is now before the House of Representatives. sexual penetration and second-degree unlawful sexual contact and is being held in lieu The background checks were never en- of $40,000 bail pending trial. FIRE CALLS WILMINGTON April 7: 7:55 a.m.

16th Street and North Bancroft Parkway. Accident. 8:28 p.m. 16th Street and North Bancroft Parkway. Accident.

2 2:42 p.m. I-95 and West Fourth Street. Accident. 5:06 p.m. 2300 N.

Tatnall St. Auto. 5:25 p.m. 408 E. Eighth St.

Trash. 5:43 p.m. Compton and Town courts. Field. 7:09 p.m.

811 Kirkwood St. Garage. NEW CASTLE COUNTY April 7: 12:41 a.m. 1705 Marsh Road. Auto.

Brandywine Hundred Fire Company. 8:01 a.m. Forsythia Drive and Pike Creek Road, Meadowood. Accident. Mill Creek Fire Company and county Emergency Medical Services.

8:57 a.m. Augustine Cut-off and Concord Pike. Accident. Talleyville Fire Company and county Emergency Medical Services. 9 a.m.

594 Rickets Mill Road, Cecil County, Md. House. Aetna Hose Hook Ladder Company of Newark assisted Singerly Fire Company of Elkton, Md. 11:52 a.m. 600 Christina Mill Christina Mill Apartments.

Building. Aetna Hose Hook Ladder of Newark and Singerly of Elkton (Md.) fire companies. 12:20 p.m. 119 Haggerty Place. Field.

Townsend Fire Company. 12:26 p.m. 2504 Lincoln Ave. House. Claymont, Talleyville and Brandywine Hundred fire companies.

12:33 p.m. 14 Garfield Way. Field. Aetna Hose Hook Ladder Company of Newark. 12:37 p.m.

1201 Naamans Road. Woods. Claymont and Talleyville fire companies. 1:08 p.m. 1200 Peoples Plaza Shopping Center.

Rescue. Aetna Hose Hook Ladder Company of Newark. 1:09 p.m. 2400 Summit Bridge Road. Accident.

Aetna Hose Hook Ladder Company of Newark. 1:51 p.m. 425 Brewster Drive. Gas odor outdoors. Aetna Hose Hook Ladder Company of Newark.

2:19 p.m. 2 S. Du Pont Road. Accident. Elsmere, Five Points and Minquas of Newport fire companies.

2:28 p.m. Pennsylvania. Avenue and Hopeton Road, Westover Hills. Wires. Elsmere Fire Company.

3:06 p.m. Sunset Lake Road and Reybold Drive. Field. Christiana Fire Company. 3:27 p.m.

2518 Du Pont Highway. Accident. Odessa Fire Company. 3:33 p.m. Cleaver Farm Road and West Reybold Drive.

Field. Volunteer Hose Company of Middietown. 3:34 p.m. Concord Pike and Foulk Road. Accident.

Talleyville Fire Company. 4:03 p.m. 1201 Naamans Road. Field. Claymont and Talleyville fire companies.

4:03 p.m. Concord Pike and I-95. Accident. Talleyville Fire Company. 4:10 p.m.

Porter and Old Porter roads. Accident. Christiana Fire Company, 5:33 p.m. 698 Naamans Road. Field.

Claymont Fire Company. 5:38 p.m. Augustine Beach. Field. Port Penn Fire Company.

6 p.m. 4615 Patrician Patrician Terrace Apartments. Mulch. Mill Creek Fire Company. 6:03 p.m.

1 Penns Way, New Castle Corporate Commons. Shrubs. Wilmington Manor, Minquas of Newport and Five Points fire companies. 6:39 p.m. 160 Bear-Christiana Road.

Accident. Christiana Fire Company. p.m. Chesmar Plaza Shopping Center. Accident.

Aetna Hose Hook Ladder Company of Newark. 7:04 p.m. Airport and West Basin roads. Accident. Minquas of Newport, Wilmington Manor and Holloway Terrace fire companies.

8:25 p.m. U.S. 40 and Fox Hunt Drive. Accident. Christiana and Delaware City fire companies.

both of Clifton, N.J. Robert K. McElyea Jr. and Jennifer L. Gill, both of Honey Brook, Pa.

Alfredo Sotelo and Iris Lopez, both of Wilmington. Jonathan N. Bovit, Philadelphia, and Ivette Maria Diaz, Pennsauken, N.J. Mohamed Yansaneh and Jean Denise Wright, both of Philadelphia. Marc Rocford Friedman and Donnalee B.J.

Wallace, both of Philadelphia. Douglas John Miller and Vickie Lynn Neal, both of Woodbury, N.J. Timothy L. Lovejoy, Bear, and Antoinette Incitti, Newark, Del. Jeremiah Durham and Betty Jane Mosley, both of Bridgeton, N.J.

Glen L. Greene and Roxanne W. Witmyer, both of Ephrata, Pa. William M. Zidel and Beth A.

Walstead, both of Bear, Del. Richard Edwards Hickman and KENT COUNTY April 6: 3:54 p.m. Walkers Trailer Park. Medical assist. Marydel Fire Company.

8:12 p.m. 26161 Shultz Road. Assist. Marydel and Clayton fire companies. April 7 12:31 a.m.

320 Jason St. Building. Robbins Hose Company of Dover. 1:30 a.m. Pinepitch Road north of Whitelersburg Road.

Woods. Harrington Fire Company. 3:05 a.m. Toby Collins Road north of Park Brown Road. Field.

Harrington Fire Company. 9:45 a.m. 7 Hickory Ridge Road. Accident. Cheswold Fire Company.

11:34 a.m. Kent 105 at Kent 368. Field. Camden-Wyoming Fire Company. 11:43 a.m.

Kent 246 south of Delaware 10. Field. Camden-Wyoming Fire Company. 12:02 p.m. State and Pine streets.

Accident. Robbins Hose Company of Dover. 1:13 p.m. East Dennys Road. Trailer.

Cheswold and Leipsic fire companies. 4:23 p.m. Frederica Fire Station. Marsh. Frederica Fire Company.

4:30 p.m. Delaware 14 at Kent 395. Accident. Houston Fire Company. 6:01 p.m.

Kent 13 and Kent 12. Gas. Felton Fire Company. SUSSEX COUNTY April 7: 2:25 p.m. Sussex 213 south of Delaware 16.

Woods. Ellendale Fire Company. 5:02 p.m. Delaware 30 north of Sussex 48. Field.

Millsboro Fire Company. 5:43 p.m. Delaware 5. Woods. Indian River Fire Company of Oak Orchard.

7:15 p.m. North Prong Lane. Automatic alarm. Delmar Fire Company. CECIL COUNTY, Md.

April 7: 12:03 p.m. U.S. 40 and Landing Lane. Accident. Singerly Fire, Company of Elkton and county Medic Ill.

12:45 p.m. 399 Childs Road. Building. Singerly of Elkton, North East and Rising Sun Community fire companies. 2:44 p.m.

-I-96 northbound at mile marker 105.2. Accident. Singerly Fire Company of Elkton and county Medic II. 2:49 p.m. --1-95 northbound at mile marker 102.5.

Accident. Northeast Fire Company. 4:28 p.m. 1-95 southbound at mile marker 108. Accident.

Singerly Fire Company of Elkton and county Medic Ill. 8:32 p.m.- Singerly and Dogwood roads. Accident. Singerly Fire Company of Elkton and county Medic Ill. LOTTERIES BEEBE, LEWES Costello Suzanne and Michael, Milton, April 6, daughter.

Galloway and John, Georgetown, April 6, son. Gude Anne Karl, Clarksville, April 6, daughter. Perez Lydia and Alan DeLeon, Lewes, April 6, son. Schrock Loretta and Brent, Greenwood, April 6, son. Wilkerson Jennifer and Charles Millsboro, April 5, son.

NANTICOKE, SEAFORD Layton Kelly and Chad, Seaford, April 6, daughter. Kathryn Rankin, both of North East. Robert C. Trout and Patricia Ann Herr, both of Schaefferstown, Pa. Richard Sherman and Cathy Marshall, both of Bensalem, Pa.

Amanda Gba-Kamara and Elizabeth M. Joseph, both of Yeadon, Pa. Mark E. Canning and Diane L. Southern, both of Philaldephia.

Karl F. Dickerson and Mary Schmittinger, both of Milton, Del. Harry Eyres Douglas V. and Martine Hemmelgarn, both of Catasauqua, Pa. Arthur K.

Miller Jr. and Brenda L. Henderson, both of Elkton. Peter Alan Curran and Jennifer Marie Petrokonis, both of New Providence, Pa. Thomas Edward Whitt Sr.

and Theresa Marie Cox, both of North East. Tanju Zafis and Askin Kucukkarca, Delaware Play 7-5-0 Play 3 0-0-1 Play 4 Day. 2-9-2-9 Play 4 Night. 4-2-5-2 Lotto 01-07-18-21-25-31 Maryland Numbers Game 5-8-0 Pick 4 4-3-4-3 Match Five 06-17-27-30-39 New Jersey Pick-It 7-9-0 Pick 4 Cash 5 Pennsylvania Daily Number Big 4 2-6-0-0 Wild Card Lotto 02-07-10-16-29-39 Wild Card Alternate 34 Call these numbers to get a recorded message of lottery numbers drawn: Delaware (800) 338-6200 (out of state). (302) 736-1436 Maryland (410) 764-4528 New Jersey (N.J.

only) 976-2020 Pennsylvania (215) 952-1135 Jody Lynn Andrewjeski, both of Ardmore, Ronald Vincent Kuzminski and Bonni Sue Bradley, both of Wilmington. Gary D. Tingler and Catherine E. Free, both of Edgewood. Michael R.

Tempest, Newark, and Dianna L. Grose, Milford, Del. Enrique Juan Cronish and Angele Maria Rivera, both of Downingtown, Pa. Edmund Pensky and Amalia Pensky, both of New Castle, Del. Earl R.

Crawford North East and Amanda R. Richards, Elkton John Thomas Boberick and Danielle Brigette Keeney, both 0 Sewell, N.J. Michael A. Philhower and Aphis Marie Cochran, both of Elkton. Sean B.

Freeman, Coatesville, Pa. and Kimberly N. Teter, Chester Springs, Pa. Grocer charged in coupon scam Fraud allegedly took in $3 million By ANN MANSER He then sent the coupons to Staff reporter the manufacturers, claiming that customers at his two CLAYMONT The owner stores had purchased the of a grocery store in Tri-State items and redeemed the couMall was charged Friday with pons, and was reimbursed for operating a coupon-redemp- them, according to the tion scheme in which he alleg- charges. edly collected about $3 million Actually, authorities charge, to which he was not entitled the items had never been purand failed to pay taxes on chased and the coupons never much of that amount.

redeemed at his stores. Federal Treasury agents Paul S. Deery, special agent filed tax-evasion and mail- with the Internal Revenue Serfraud charges against Edward vice in Philadelphia, said CoS. Covert, 45, of Cherry Hill, vert failed to report and pay N.J., owner of Shop-N-Bag su- taxes on $876,924 between 1987 permarkets at the mall and in and 1990. nearby Trainer, Pa.

Covert remained free Friday Covert allegedly defrauded while discussing a plea agreemanufacturers by buying more ment with federal authorities, than 5 million cents-off cou- Deery said. If convicted, he pons from an illegal coupon faces a maximum fine of $1 broker between March 1987 million and a prison term of and February 1992. up to 16 years..