A Georgia man has been arrested and accused of unlawfully transporting 47 firearms, many rounds of ammunition, and narcotics from Georgia to Lower Manhattan. We announced the arrest and charges on Friday.
David Morris, 31, of Georgia, was arrested earlier today after allegedly selling 17 weapons and cocaine to undercover law enforcement authorities. He is scheduled to appear in front of US Magistrate Judge Stewart D. Aaron this afternoon.
According to the criminal complaint, Morris conducted multiple transactions with undercover NYPD detectives near Catherine Slip and South Street in Lower Manhattan on or around March 28, April 18, and May 9, 2025. During these purported sales, Morris sold 47 weapons and countless rounds of ammunition. He’s suspected of bringing the firearms from Georgia.
The complaint further alleges that Morris told undercover police that he works with a team in Georgia, has been selling firearms for about ten years, and has access to systems that convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons.
Police have accused Morris of both gun and drug trafficking. On or around April 18, 2025, he allegedly gave an undercover cop a “sample” of a material containing cocaine. On or around May 9, 2025, he allegedly sold an undercover officer plastic baggies containing white powder, which he claimed was cocaine.
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said of the arrest, “As alleged, David Morris illegally trafficked dangerous drugs and 47 firearms from Georgia to New York City.” The unrestricted influx of illegal firearms poses a hazard to all New Yorkers. Anyone considering unlawfully trafficking guns into New York City should be aware that our office and our law enforcement partners are monitoring, and we will hold you accountable for compromising public safety.”
ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller emphasized the commitment to public safety, saying, “Today’s arrest serves as a notice to those who think they are above the law and can illegally traffic guns into our communities. 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.”
Morris has been charged with one count of unlicensed dealing with firearms, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; one count of firearms trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison; and one count of using and carrying a firearm in furtherance of drug trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of life and a mandatory minimum of five years in prison.
The statutory maximum and minimum penalties are mandated by Congress and are supplied solely for informational purposes; any punishment will be determined by the court.
This case is part of Operation Take Back America, the Justice Department’s broad program to combat illegal immigration, dismantle cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and safeguard communities from violent crime. The operation uses resources from the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).
U.S. Attorney Williams praised the ATF, the NYPD’s Joint Firearms Task Force, and the 5th Precinct’s Field Intelligence Office for their investigations. Assistant US Attorney Kathryn Wheelock of the Violent and Organized Crime Unit is prosecuting the case.
