Police: Contractor Charged With Stealing Hundreds Of Thousands In DuPont Equipment

The Delaware State Police arrested 51-year-old Michael Hughes of Townsend, for felony thefts that occurred over a period of 3 months from the DuPont Experimental Station in Wilmington.

Officials said on November 12, 2024, the Delaware State Police Troop 2 Property Crimes Unit began investigating a report of multiple thefts that occurred at the DuPont Experimental Station, located at 200 Powder Mill Road, Wilmington.

The preliminary investigation revealed that between August 2024 and October 2024, lab and office equipment valued at several thousand dollars were stolen from the property and were being sold online police said Wednesday.

Through investigative means, detectives identified the suspect responsible for the thefts/seller of the stolen lab and office equipment as Michael Hughes, who was a subcontracted employee at the facility police said.

During the investigation, detectives obtained and executed a search warrant at Hughes’ residence, which led to the recovery of a large amount of lab and office equipment that was valued at several hundred thousand dollars. Subsequently, detectives obtained a warrant for Hughes’ arrest and attempted to locate him.

On November 19, 2024, Hughes turned himself in at Troop 2, where he was charged with Theft $1,500 or Greater (Felony) and Selling Stolen Property Value Over $1,500 2 or More Prior Convictions (Felony), He was arraigned by Justice of the Peace Court 2, and released on his own recognizance.