A suburban Philadelphia man has been accused of drugging not less than 5 girls and a teenage lady he met on a courting website and sexually assaulting them at his residence whereas they had been impaired, authorities stated.
Andrew Gallo of Levittown, Pennsylvania, was arrested Wednesday, the Bucks County District Lawyer’s Workplace stated.
“It is a younger girl’s worst nightmare,” Bucks County District Lawyer Jennifer Schorn stated at a information convention Wednesday asserting the fees. She additionally stated that authorities had discovered somebody being victimized when a search warrant was just lately executed at Gallo’s residence.
In response to authorities, the accusers, who ranged in age from 17 to 30, stated they met Gallo on the web site sugardaddymeet.com, the place he used the identify DREWSTER420. One of many accusers additionally reported he used the identify KAE. The web site payments itself as “a platform for beneficiant males and engaging girls trying to type trustworthy relationships.” The positioning’s phrases of service prohibit customers beneath age 18.
Gallo, 40, is alleged to have organized dates with them after assembly them on the location. Schorn stated Gallo “made it some extent to verify these dates occurred at his residence,” the place he would “surreptitiously” conceal harmful medication in alcoholic drinks he served them, “which rendered them so impaired, they had been unable to consent to something, not to mention sexual acts.” They described feeling a scarcity of management through the alleged sexual encounters.
Lab outcomes revealed they’d methamphetamine and different medication of their methods, Schorn stated. His accusers, a few of whom sought medical remedy, reported such unwanted effects as hallucinations and psychosis. Some additionally stated they stayed up for days, with one saying she was unable to sleep for seven days straight, Schorn stated.
Gallo is alleged to have raped 5 of his six accusers and sexually and bodily assaulted all of them, Schorn stated.
“He used such power in strangling his victims that some misplaced consciousness,” Schorn stated, later including that Gallo “methodically carried out what was clearly preplanned crimes with the only goal of satisfying his deviant sexual need.”
At his arraignment Wednesday, Gallo discovered the fees he confronted however didn’t enter a plea, a spokesperson for the district legal professional’s workplace stated Thursday. Magisterial District Choose Terrence Hughes set his bail and despatched him to Bucks County Correctional Facility. It’s unclear whether or not he has an legal professional. He’s subsequent due in court docket Sept. 24.
Two of the accusers lived in New Jersey on the time of the alleged assaults and the opposite 4 in Pennsylvania. All of them described feeling unusual after consuming the drinks, in line with the felony grievance and the district legal professional’s workplace.
A number of gadgets had been collected throughout a search at Gallo’s residence final month — together with a bottle of tequila — and submitted for forensic evaluation, in line with the district legal professional’s workplace. The tequila examined optimistic for methamphetamine, Schorn stated.
Gallo has been charged with 5 counts of rape by inflicting impairment, six counts of possession with intent to ship a managed substance, 4 counts of strangulation, two counts of promoting or furnishing liquor or malt or brewed beverage to minors, and one depend of corruption of minors.
The assaults are alleged to have occurred over the course of a 12 months.
“The victims on this case are so brave,” Schorn stated on the information convention. “They got here ahead to report crimes that, fairly frankly, predators like this assume the victims received’t have the power to take action and I commend them for his or her power and braveness.”
Authorities imagine there are extra victims and requested anybody who believes is amongst them to return ahead.
