Georgia Man Arrested for Trafficking Guns and Drugs to New York City

By Carol A. Gasser Moore

NEW YORK CITY, New York County, New York – Federal and local authorities have arrested David Morris, a 31-year-old Georgia resident, for allegedly trafficking dozens of firearms and illegal drugs into Lower Manhattan. The arrest follows a months-long undercover investigation involving multiple sales of weapons and narcotics to law enforcement officers.

Arrest Follows Major Firearm and Cocaine Sale

According to a criminal complaint unsealed Friday, May 9, Morris was taken into custody in Lower Manhattan while completing a sale involving 17 firearms and cocaine to undercover officers with the New York City Police Department (NYPD). This transaction was the latest in a series of illicit sales attributed to Morris, who is accused of transporting a total of 47 firearms and ammunition from Georgia to New York between late March and early May.

Morris appeaedr before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron on Friday.

Law Enforcement Reaction: A Warning to Gun Traffickers

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, representing the Southern District of New York, emphasized the threat posed by illegal weapons. “The unchecked flow of illegal firearms is a threat to every New Yorker,” Clayton stated. “Anyone considering trafficking guns into our city should know: we are watching, and we will hold you accountable.”

Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge of the ATF’s New York Field Division, echoed that message. “Today’s arrest serves as a notice to those who think they are above the law,” he said. “ATF remains committed to aggressively targeting firearms traffickers.”

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch praised the cooperation between agencies. “Morris trafficked illegal firearms, ammunition, and narcotics into our city—but our brave officers were one step ahead. Gun traffickers fuel violence in our communities, and the NYPD will never stop working to shut down these pipelines.”

A Pattern of Illegal Activity

The complaint outlines three separate transactions:

• March 28, April 18, and May 9: Morris sold firearms and ammunition near Catherine Slip and South Street in Lower Manhattan.
• He told undercover officers that he had been selling weapons for about 10 years, worked with a network in Georgia, and had access to machine gun conversion devices capable of turning semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons.
• On April 18, he offered a cocaine “sample.”
• On May 9, he sold what appeared to be multiple baggies of cocaine.

Charges and Penalties

Morris faces the following federal charges:

• Unlicensed Dealing of Firearms – up to 5 years in prison.
• Firearms Trafficking – up to 15 years in prison.
• Use of a Firearm in Furtherance of Drug Trafficking – a minimum of 5 years and up to life in prison.

Sentencing will ultimately be determined by a federal judge.

Part of a Broader Federal Effort

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a Justice Department initiative aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organizations and reducing violent crime. The operation integrates efforts from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Wheelock from the Violent and Organized Crime Unit.

Authorities remind the public that charges are allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.