Andrew Garrett, a Steelton, Pennsylvania resident, has received an 84-month prison sentence followed by three years of supervised release for his involvement in a failed 2018 armed robbery at Smithgall’s Pharmacy in Lancaster, as per an announcement made by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The incident, which has seen the sentencing of three other accomplices, was an attempt to seize prescription opioids from a local business.
As the final defendant to face sentencing, Garrett, age 30, marks the end of a series of legal repercussions that have brought all four culprits to justice. Having been charged with attempted Hobbs Act robbery, which concerns the obstruction of interstate commerce through robbery, Garrett along with his accomplices admitted to their roles in the crime, leading to guilty pleas, as reported by the Department of Justice.
In February, co-defendant Brandon Galette, 30, was sentenced to 148 months in prison and three years of supervised release. Galette received an additional penalty for firearm possession by a felon, amounting to $12,650 in restitution. Johnny Straining, 28, followed with sentencing in August 2023 to 168 months in prison and two years of supervised release for conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery, among other charges. Lamar Black, the oldest at 35, received a sentence in the same month, culminating in 180 months of prison time alongside two years of supervised release.
The terrifying encounter unfolded on October 23, 2018, when Galette, armed and having been provided a firearm by Black, entered the pharmacy and aggressively demanded opioids. In the commotion, Galette assaulted a patron and tried to herd employees to the back of the store, "This attempted armed robbery was a terrifying experience for the employees and customers of Smithgall’s," U.S. Attorney Romero said, as stated by the U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
In the wake of these sentencings, U.S. Attorney Romero and Wayne A. Jacobs, FBI Philadelphia’s Special Agent in Charge, reiterated their commitment to public safety. "This sentencing makes clear, even the attempt to commit an armed robbery carries serious consequences," Jacobs confirmed, highlighting the joint dedication between the U.S. Attorney's Office, FBI Philadelphia, and the Lancaster City Bureau of Police to creating safer communities. The case prosecution was led by Assistant United States Attorney Timothy M. Stengel.
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