Georgia man arrested after allegedly transporting nearly 50 illegal firearms and cocaine into the heart of New York City

New York City, New York – A Georgia man is facing serious federal charges after allegedly smuggling nearly 50 firearms and drugs into New York City in a wide-reaching illegal trafficking scheme. David Morris, 31, was arrested on May 9, 2025, in Lower Manhattan after investigators say he delivered multiple firearms and cocaine to undercover NYPD officers.

The arrest was announced jointly by U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton of the Southern District of New York, ATF New York Field Division Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller, and NYPD Commissioner Jessica S. Tisch. According to officials, Morris is at the center of a significant gun-running operation that stretched from Georgia to the heart of New York City.

“As alleged, David Morris illegally trafficked dangerous drugs and 47 firearms from Georgia to New York City,” said U.S. Attorney Clayton. “The unchecked flow of illegal firearms is a threat to every New Yorker. Anyone who is thinking about illegally trafficking guns to New York City should know that our Office and our law enforcement partners are watching, and we will hold you accountable for jeopardizing the safety of our streets.”

Investigators say Morris brought the weapons up from Georgia and sold them over a series of three meetings with undercover NYPD officers—on March 28, April 18, and May 9—near Catherine Slip and South Street in Lower Manhattan. In total, authorities say he handed over 47 firearms and several rounds of ammunition. Alongside the firearms, Morris also reportedly trafficked cocaine, selling white powder he described as the drug to officers during two of the meetings.

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Authorities say Morris wasn’t acting alone. According to the criminal complaint, he claimed he worked with a team of individuals in Georgia and had been selling firearms for about ten years. Morris also told undercover officers that he had access to devices used to illegally convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons—known as machine gun conversion devices.

“Today’s arrest serves as a notice to those who think they are above the law and can illegally traffic guns into our communities,” said ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller. “The men and women of ATF NY will never waver in our commitment to protect the public and to aggressively target firearms traffickers. I thank our partners at NYPD and SDNY for their diligent work and tireless dedication to our shared public safety mission.”

Police and federal agents seized baggies of suspected cocaine and a cache of weapons as part of the arrest operation. Officials have released a photo showing some of the contraband seized from Morris during the sting.

“David Morris trafficked illegal firearms, ammunition, and narcotics into our city—but our brave officers were one step ahead, stopping these weapons and drugs from ever reaching the streets,” said NYPD Commissioner Tisch. “Gun traffickers fuel violence in our communities, and the NYPD will never stop working to shut down these pipelines. I’m grateful to the ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their partnership in this critical case.”

Morris now faces multiple federal charges. These include:

• One count of unlicensed dealing of firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
• One count of firearms trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years.
• One count of using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, which has a mandatory minimum of five years and a potential maximum sentence of life in prison.

These charges were filed as part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that aims to disrupt criminal networks, eliminate transnational threats, and reduce violent crime in American communities. The operation uses combined resources from the Justice Department’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) to coordinate action across agencies.

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The case is being handled by the Southern District’s Violent and Organized Crime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kathryn Wheelock is leading the prosecution. Officials emphasized that the charges are merely allegations, and Morris is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Authorities say this arrest highlights the ongoing threat of illegal firearms crossing state lines, especially from states with looser gun laws. Georgia has long been cited as a source of firearms that end up in northern cities like New York, often through underground “iron pipeline” routes.

Jay Clayton praised the close coordination between federal and local agencies in bringing Morris to justice. He specifically commended the efforts of the ATF’s New York Field Division and the NYPD’s Joint Firearms Task Force, along with the 5th Precinct’s Field Intelligence Office.

The investigation remains ongoing, and officials say additional arrests or charges could follow as more details come to light. Authorities have not publicly identified the other individuals Morris claimed to be working with.

This latest case underscores the growing concern among law enforcement over the combination of gun trafficking and narcotics sales—two of the most significant drivers of violent crime in New York and other major cities.

As the case moves forward in federal court, U.S. Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron is expected to oversee the initial proceedings. More details about the timeline of Morris’s trial and possible sentencing will be determined in the coming weeks.