First Assistant District Attorney Brian Gallagher, a veteran state and federal prosecutor, serves as second in command of the District Attorney’s Office where he helps oversee operations and prosecutes major crimes. Gallagher was named to the position in November 2023, replacing Attorney Judy Price.

“I am thrilled that Brian agreed to leave his position at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and come back to the DA’s Office,” said District Attorney Mark Powell. “Brian is a seasoned prosecutor with experience at both the state and federal levels who is well-respected by our staff of prosecutors, county detectives and law enforcement at all levels.”

Gallagher served in the DA’s Office, first as an Assistant District Attorney then as a Deputy District Attorney, from 2012 through 2022 when he left to become an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the U.S. Middle District of Pennsylvania. He will continue serving part-time as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, a position he held while he was previously in the DA’s Office. 

“I began my career as a prosecutor in the DA’s Office, so coming back as the First Assistant DA is really like coming home for me,” Gallagher said. “I am humbled and honored that District Attorney Powell offered me the opportunity, and I look forward once again to serving the citizens of Lackawanna County and helping to keep our community safe.”

Gallagher, who is a 2011 graduate of Western Michigan School of Law, began his career in 2012 in the District Attorney’s Office as an Assistant District Attorney in the Juvenile Unit, where prosecuted cases involving juvenile offenders, including manslaughter, assault, robbery and other crimes. In 2015, he was promoted to Deputy District Attorney in the DUI/Homicide by Vehicle Unit, where he supervised two Assistant District Attorneys and prosecuted cases involving all types of vehicular crimes, including approximately 20 homicide cases involving motor vehicles. From 2015 through 2022, he also served in the Arson Unit, prosecuting cases involving arson for hire, insurance fraud related to arson, and fatalities caused by intentionally set fires.

From June 2018 to June 2021, Gallagher served in the Drug Unit, which evolved into the Gun, Gang & Drug Unit. There, he prosecuted felony cases involving drug-trafficking, and gang- and gun-related violence. During part of that time, he supervised the Lackawanna County Drug Task Force and two Assistant District Attorneys, and prosecuted hundreds of felony drug cases. He secured guilty verdicts in multiple felony drug trials and the forfeiture of more than $200,000 in assets from illegal drug sales. In September 2022, Gallagher was put in charge of the Major Crimes Unit, where he oversaw the prosecution of all major crimes, including homicide, manslaughter, aggravated assault and gun violence.

Gallagher also was the chief prosecutor and lead investigator of “Operation Grabbing Straws,” which targeted people who bought firearms legally and then sold them illegally to convicted felons. That investigation by the Scranton Police Department and Pennsylvania State Police resulted in charges against 26 defendants and the seizure of 22 illegal firearms. From October 2018 through 2022, Gallagher served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney, where he acted as the liaison between the DA’s Office, various federal law enforcement agencies and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and helped prosecute more than 25 federal cases. 

During the 2019-2020 school year, Gallagher served as an adjunct professor at Lackawanna College’s Act 120 Municipal Police Officers Academy, where he instructed cadets on various legal principles involving criminal law, the Pennsylvania Crimes Code, Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence, courtroom evidence, and use of force by law enforcement. He has made numerous presentations on a wide variety of topics for the Lackawanna Bar Association, colleges and schools throughout Lackawanna County.

Gallagher is the recipient of the 2018 Lackawanna Drug Task Force Prosecutor of the Year Award, the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services Law Enforcement Award, Scranton Police Detective Division Award for the Bonacci murder trials, and the Justice for Frankie Bonacci Award given by the Bonacci family. He has served on the Lackawanna County Re-Entry Task Force and Pretrial Services Task Force and serves on the board of the West Scranton Little League.

In addition, District Attorney Powell appointed Attorney Daniel P. Pillets Jr. who previously served as the First Assistant District Attorney in Luzerne County will serve as Senior Trial Counsel.

Pillets has served in a variety of capacities in the Luzerne County criminal justice system over the past 36 years. He served as First Assistant District Attorney from 1992 to 2000 under District Attorney Peter Paul Olszewski Jr., and as Deputy District Attorney and Assistant District Attorney under three different District Attorneys from August 1983 to April 1988. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Scranton, he earned his law degree from Temple University School of Law.

“I am humbled and honored to serve on Mark Powell’s staff,” Pillets said. “Although I was aware of the Powell law firm, I never had the pleasure of meeting Mark until recently. I have been utterly impressed with his intelligence, demeanor and obvious legal acumen. He is already leading by example and thoroughly reviewing every position and process in the District Attorney’s Office with the goal of maximizing efficiency and effectiveness.”

Pillets, while serving as First Assistant District Attorney under Olszewski, served as co-counsel with the DA in the prosecution of many major crimes, including the highly publicized case of Joann Curley, who pleaded guilty in 1997 to poisoning her newlywed husband. He also assumed a lead role in the development of policy and administration of the office. Between August 1983 and April 1988, Pillets served as a Deputy District Attorney and Assistant District Attorney under District Attorneys Robert J. Gillespie Jr., Bernard Podcasy and Correale F. Stevens.

Most recently, Pillets served as Senior Law Clerk to Luzerne County Judge Fred A. Pierantoni III from March 2014 to October 2016, and as Senior Law Clerk to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas from January 2010 to March 2014. He has also served as Senior Law Clerk to Olszewski for 10 years after he was elected judge in 2000; Assistant Solicitor to the Pennsylvania State Police, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 43, 2000-present; Solicitor, Back Mountain Police Association, Luzerne County, 2007-present; Law Clerk to Luzerne County Judge Chester B. Muroski, 1989-1992; and Mental Health Review Officer for Luzerne County, 1989-1992. He has served on numerous law enforcement task forces and has lectured at professional education programs at the local, state and national levels.