David Morris, a Georgia man, has been arrested and accused of trafficking firearms and drugs in New York City. Morris stands accused of selling 47 weapons and cocaine to undercover NYPD police in three separate transactions.
The alleged sales occurred near Catherine Slip and South Street on April 18 and yesterday, according to the criminal complaint.
According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, if convicted, Morris faces up to five years in prison for unlicensed firearms dealing, up to 15 years for arms trafficking, and a mandatory minimum of five years—with a possible maximum of life in prison—for using and carrying a firearm while drug trafficking.
A judge will eventually determine the sentence.
The ATF and NYPD conducted the investigation. Authorities claim that their concerted actions helped prevent the spread of illegal weapons and drugs in the city. Assistant United States Attorney Kathryn Wheelock is prosecuting the case as part of Operation Take Back America, a government campaign aimed at decreasing illegal arms and drug trafficking. Morris is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.