Food Truck Trafficker In 'Operation Hot Lunch' Sting Admits Guilt

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — The six-month-long "Operation Hot Lunch" sting is continuing to serve justice as a plea deal was reached with the man at the center of the investigation.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on Tuesday that 42-year-old Kirkland Salmon, of Newburgh, pled guilty in Orange County Court to first degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, first degree criminal sale of a firearm, and second and fourth degree conspiracy.

The investigation into illegal firearms and narcotics trafficking in Orange County, "Operation Hot Lunch," was conducted by the Orange County Drug Task Force, 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. The operation resulted in the arrests of 26 people charged with narcotics, firearm and conspiracy offenses.

SEE ALSO: Food-Truck Trafficking: 33 Accused In 'Operation Hot Lunch' By DA

"The spread of illegal narcotics and firearms poses a real and present danger to our community," Hoovler said. "In order to disrupt the types of conspiracies seen in this case, it requires the kind of dedicated, long-term investigations that are possible only through coordinated operations between law enforcement and prosecutors. My Office, time and again, has reaffirmed our commitment to keeping our streets safe from the scourge of drugs and the corresponding violence often found in the wake. Together with our law enforcement partners, we will utilize every resource available to seek out drug and gun dealers and bring them to justice."

According to court documents, Operation Hot Lunch found that 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.

"The significant plea entered by this defendant represents the culmination of the coordinated efforts of law enforcement," Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta said. "The drugs and illegal guns at the center of this case wreak havoc and devastation in our communities. The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to investigating these crimes so that the offenders can be held to account for their actions."

Under the plea agreement, a 12-year prison sentence will be recommended followed by five years of post-release supervision, when Salmon is sentenced on December 16. He also agreed to forfeit a vehicle and a food truck.

Hoovler thanked the agencies involved in the investigation, as well as the following agencies who assisted in the enforcement action on May 21: 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.

The cases are being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Alexis Gregory and Amanda M. Bettinelli.