Multi-agency team disrupts major New York weapons and cocaine trafficking ring

By Cara Ding
Contributing writer

A six-month collaboration between nearly 40 law enforcement agencies resulted in the dismantling of the largest known gun and cocaine trafficking ring in Orange County, New York.

Thanks to a food truck often parked next to the Newburgh Municipal Court, guns from North Carolina and cocaine from Florida were able to enter the county and put residents in danger until the recent disturbances, according to a press conference Wednesday. .

“We've never seen this level of sophistication, and we've never seen this level of structuring – this organization's money was flowing easily,” Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said during the announcement made to the county sheriff's office.

A hair salon in Newburgh allegedly served as a hideout where illegal money and goods were kept for the criminal network.

“This was a multi-layered, four-tiered conspiracy and it likely involved the sale of cocaine worth $3.3 million conservatively from the town of Newburgh and other locations in the Hudson Valley. [every year],” he added.

Following a May 21 day-long coordinated execution by multiple agencies, nearly 30 people from various levels of the criminal network were arrested, with the seizure of nearly 12 kilos of cocaine, 30 illegal firearms and more than $45,000 in American currency.

Five of the six defendants believed to be at the top of the illegal supply chain were undocumented.

A seized firearm has been identified as a murder weapon that allegedly led to the death of a 13-year-old in North Carolina.

“This is a perfect example of a multi-jurisdictional joint drug and firearms trafficking operation,” Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta said at the news conference.

“The Sheriff’s Office will continue to dedicate its resources to fighting serious crimes and holding these criminals accountable,” he added.

About six months ago, Investigator John Kitsos of the Sheriff's Office initiated the case with the support of Police Lt. Thomas Mallon, both of whom then received assistance from Investigator Mike Decker and lead investigator Chris Fox of the district attorney's office.

An army of local police departments – including Middletown, Newburgh, Poughkeepsie, Woodbury and Montgomery – assisted in the ensuing investigation, which was also aided by the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center , based in Goshen.

New York City police sent undercover officers to buy guns and drugs from the Newburgh food truck during lunch hours, which is part of the reason the investigation was dubbed “Operation Hot Lunch.”

The ATF, or the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, provided advanced investigative resources and helped capture the defendant suppliers based in North Carolina and Florida.

An ATF special agent who made significant contributions to the case prefers to remain anonymous.

“This case illustrates the work ATF does every day to make an impact in stemming the flow of deadly drugs and illegal narcotics through our streets,” said Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF Field Division. the ATF in New York, during the press conference.

Four people charged in connection with the alleged criminal network remain at large: Fort Lauderdale resident Laura McLaren Bailey, Poughkeepsie resident Anthony Nelson, Newbugh resident Larry Oates, and Shantorian Towles.

Operation Hot Lunch remains an active case and all statistics known thus far are subject to change as the investigation continues.