Jay Clayton, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced the arrest of David Morris on charges related to gun and drug trafficking. Morris is accused of transporting 47 firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition from Georgia to Lower Manhattan. His arrest followed a transaction involving 17 firearms and cocaine with undercover officers. The defendant is expected to appear before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron.
U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated, “As alleged, David Morris illegally trafficked dangerous drugs and 47 firearms from Georgia to New York City. The unchecked flow of illegal firearms is a threat to every New Yorker.”
Bryan Miller, Special Agent in Charge at ATF’s New York Field Division, emphasized that this arrest serves as a warning against illegal gun trafficking: “The men and women of ATF NY will never waver in our commitment to protect the public and to aggressively target firearms traffickers.”
NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch remarked on the successful interception by law enforcement: “David Morris trafficked illegal firearms, ammunition, and narcotics into our city—but our brave officers were one step ahead.”
According to the complaint, between March 28 and May 9, 2025, Morris sold firearms and ammunition in Lower Manhattan to undercover NYPD officers. He allegedly worked with others in Georgia for about ten years selling guns and had access to machine gun conversion devices.
Morris also allegedly sold narcotics on April 18 and May 9, providing cocaine samples during these transactions.
The charges against Morris include unlicensed dealing of firearms (maximum five-year sentence), firearms trafficking (maximum fifteen-year sentence), and using a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking (maximum life sentence with a mandatory minimum of five years).
This case falls under Operation Take Back America, an initiative targeting illegal immigration and criminal organizations. It is prosecuted by the Office’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit with Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Wheelock leading the prosecution.
The charges are accusations at this stage; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.