PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that Gregory Dow, 60, of Lancaster, PA was arrested and charged by Indictment with four counts of engaging in illicit sexual conduct in a foreign place.  In a news conference at the Lancaster County Courthouse, U.S. Attorney McSwain discussed the charges in the Dow Indictment and also highlighted broader efforts of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania to protect the residents of Lancaster County.

The Indictment alleges that from on or about October 14, 2013, until on or about September 13, 2017, the defendant engaged in, and attempted to engage in, illicit sexual conduct with four different minor victims in Kenya. The defendant allegedly traveled from Lancaster County to Kenya in 2008 and started what came to be known as the Dow Family Children’s Home.  He did so with the financial support of his church and other organizations.  The defendant purported to be a Christian missionary who would care for these orphans, who called him “Dad.”   But instead of being a father figure to them, he allegedly preyed on their youth and their vulnerability.  The orphanage closed in September 2017, and the defendant now stands accused of sexually abusing at least four minor girls who lived there during that time.

U.S. Attorney McSwain also discussed recent Lancaster criminal and civil cases handled by his Office, many of which his Office adopted in collaboration with the local authorities who originally investigated the crimes. 

The criminal cases include: a knifepoint carjacking in Lancaster by a Harrisburg, PA man, Suudimon Washington; the alleged attempted robbery of Smithgall’s Pharmacy in Lancaster by four men, Lamar Black, Brandon Galette, Andrew Garrett, and Johnny Straining; the alleged arson of Lancaster City Hall by Dwain London and Patrick Baker; and the alleged illegal possession of a stockpile of 27 firearms and ammunition by a convicted felon living in Lancaster, Tyshaun Williams. 

The civil cases include: a civil action against Miller’s Organic Farm of Bird-in-Hand, PA to compel the owner to comply with the federal government’s basic food safety laws and regulations, and a settlement agreement with Lancaster General Hospital’s Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine resolving allegations of false claims submitted to Medicare for reports on obstetric ultrasounds that were significantly delayed.

“All of these cases tell a story about my Office working to bring justice to every corner of our District – from Philadelphia, to the Lehigh Valley, to right here in Lancaster,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “I am committed to bringing the resources of my Office here to help ensure that the people of Lancaster can live in safety and security.  We will hold lawbreakers accountable using all of the tools at our disposal.”

The Dow case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice.  Project Safe Childhood marshals federal, state, and local resources to better locate, apprehend, and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.

The Dow case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, with assistance from the Lancaster City Bureau of Police and the East Hempfield Township Police Department. It is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy Stengel of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and Department of Justice Trial Attorneys Lauren Britsch and Lauren Kupersmith of the Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS).

An Indictment, Information, or Criminal Complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced that Johnny Straining, 23, and Lamar Black, 29, both of Harrisburg, PA were charged by Indictment with attempted robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, and brandishing a firearm during a crime of violence. Black was also charged with possession of a firearm by a felon. The charges against the defendants stem from the October 23, 2018 attempted robbery of Smithgall’s Pharmacy in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Two additional men – Brandon Galette and Andrew Garrett – were charged in February with federal crimes related to the same attempted robbery.

“Stemming the tide of violent crime in our communities is a top priority for my Office,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain. “People looking to make a quick buck by robbing convenience stores, pharmacies, and other businesses beware: this conduct is a federal crime, and if you are convicted, you will face stiff penalties under federal law.”

This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. The Department of Justice reinvigorated PSN in 2017 as part of the Department’s renewed focus on targeting violent criminals, directing all U.S. Attorney’s Offices to work in partnership with federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement and the local community to develop effective, locally-based strategies to reduce violent crime.

If convicted, Straining and Black face a maximum possible sentence of life imprisonment, with a seven-year mandatory minimum, which will be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed. Both are also subject to financial penalties, including fines and special assessments.

The case was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lancaster City Bureau of Police, and is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Tim Stengel.

An indictment, information, or criminal complaint is an accusation. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – United States Attorney William M. McSwain announced today that Brandon Galette, 24, of Harrisburg, PA, and Andrew Garrett, 24, of Steelton, PA, were charged today by Indictment with one count of attempted robbery which interferes with interstate commerce and one count of using, carrying, and brandishing a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.  Galette is also charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.  The Indictment charges Galette and Garrett for their alleged participation in the October 23, 2018 attempted robbery of Smithgall’s Pharmacy in Lancaster, PA, during which they allegedly attempted to steal prescription opioids. 

If convicted, the defendants each face a maximum penalty of lifetime imprisonment, with a mandatory minimum of seven years in prison, to be served consecutive to any other sentence imposed, plus five years of supervised release.  Additionally, Galette faces a $750,000 fine and a $300 special assessment, while Garrett faces a $500,000 fine and a $200 special assessment.

“Stemming the tide of violent crime in our communities is a top priority of the Department of Justice and my Office,” said U.S. Attorney McSwain.  “People looking to make a quick buck by robbing convenience stores, pharmacies, and other businesses beware: this conduct is a federal crime, and if you are convicted, you will face stiff penalties under federal law.”

The case is being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Lancaster City Bureau of Police, and it is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Stengel.

An Indictment is an accusation.  A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.