ORANGE COUNTY, NY — Operation "Hot Lunch" has delivered yet another lengthy prison sentence in Orange County.
Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that 46-year-old Dwayne Salmon, of Newburgh, was sentenced on Monday to 13.5 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision, after previously pleading guilty to first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.
On May 21, 2024, the now-famous, multi-jurisdiction sting followed a months-long investigation into firearm and narcotics trafficking, centered around a food truck in Newburgh. The operation, code named "Hot Lunch," resulted in 26 suspects being charged with narcotics, firearm, and conspiracy offenses. It is believed to be the largest narcotics and gun trafficking case in the history of Orange County.
"The success of Operation Hot Lunch is a testament to the power of cooperation and coordination amongst local, state and federal law enforcement agencies," Hoovler said. "We remain committed to dedicating the resources necessary to run long term investigations that disrupts the flow of deadly narcotics and weapons into our communities. The sentence imposed on this defendant is yet another example of the consequences that dangerous offenders face when they choose to commit their crimes in Orange County."
The six-month-long probe into illegal firearms and narcotics trafficking in Orange County was conducted by the Orange County Drug Task Force (OCDTF), the Orange County Sheriff's Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, together with the Orange County District Attorney's Office, the City of Middletown Police Department, New York State Police, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, and the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center.
According to court documents, Operation Hot Lunch found that Kirkland Salmon was at the center of four different conspiracies to traffic narcotics and firearms through Orange County.
He was supplied with cocaine by two different narcotics suppliers, Owen Beckford, a/k/a "Marvin Ottley," and Joshua Arnold, to distribute from his food truck parked in the City of Newburgh. Salmon was also supplied with firearms by Andre Smith to resell in Orange County.
Over six months, law enforcement learned of Beckford and Arnold's narcotics distribution organizations, both of which distributed cocaine in the City of Newburgh and elsewhere in Orange County. During the operation, law enforcement recovered 24 firearms and one kilogram of cocaine.
On the day of the enforcement action on May 21, police also recovered over 11 kilograms of cocaine, around 90 grams of fentanyl, seven guns, high-capacity magazines, several rounds of ammunition, an estimated $45,000 in US currency, scales and packaging materials used in narcotics trafficking, and 10 vehicles that were used in the crimes charged. In addition, a food truck was seized.
"This defendant helped drive a criminal enterprise built on drugs, guns, and profit at the expense of our community," said Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta said. "Today's sentence sends a clear message: if you traffic narcotics or illegal firearms in Orange County, we will find you, we will investigate you, and you will face serious consequences."
During plea proceedings, Dwayne Salmon admitted that, as part of the conspiracy with his brother Kirkland Salmon, he possessed eight ounces or more of cocaine.
DA Hoovler thanked the agencies involved in the investigation, as well as the following agencies who assisted in the enforcement action on May 21, 2024: the City of Newburgh Police Department; the Town of Newburgh Police Department; the Town of Woodbury Police Department; the Town of Montgomery Police Department; the Town of Wallkill Police Department; and the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Department.
"This conviction demonstrates what can be accomplished when local, state, and federal partners work together toward a common goal. By targeting individuals involved in the trafficking of illegal drugs and firearms, we are helping to reduce the threats these criminal enterprises pose to our communities. ATF is proud to stand alongside our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in the ongoing effort to disrupt violent crime and protect the public. We thank everyone involved for their dedication and commitment to justice," Special Agent in Charge of the ATF New York Field Division Bryan DiGirolamo said.
The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Assistant DA Alexis Gregory.
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