Twenty people have been charged in what officials are calling the largest gun trafficking investigation in Orange County history, following an eight-month multi-agency operation targeting illegal firearms and narcotics distribution.

Dubbed “Operation Powder Burn,” the investigation uncovered a trafficking conspiracy tied to the so-called “Iron Pipeline,” a corridor for illegal firearms smuggled from states such as Georgia and Pennsylvania into New York. Authorities said 55 illegally possessed firearms — including handguns and assault-style weapons — were purchased through controlled buys, and more than 700 grams of cocaine and fentanyl were seized.

“This is the largest gun trafficking case in Orange County and the entire Lower Hudson Valley,” Orange County District Attorney David Hoovler said during a press conference on Friday, Aug. 1, in Goshen. “These 20 people are merchants of death—some selling drugs, some selling guns. Either way, they need to be removed from our streets.”

Hoovler said the operation involved more than 20 law enforcement agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), National Guard, and multiple local police departments across three states. Undercover officers purchased the weapons, often using funds provided by the ATF—totaling over $69,000—to prevent them from reaching the street.

In total, 67 weapons were seized during the investigation.

According to Hoovler, the epicenter of the operation was a shuttered restaurant in Newburgh called The Kitchen, located at 132 South Street. Authorities allege city resident Christopher Brown was the central figure in both gun and drug trafficking operations.

Brown was allegedly supplied firearms from Dijoun Lawrence and Shorna Witter in Georgia, and others by Matthew Chang, Carl Henry, and Hamp Hunter. Additional firearm suppliers were identified as Howard Hoffman, Rohan Brown, and Fitzroy Escoffery. On the narcotics side, Brown was reportedly supplied by Ian Dawes and Shomoray Lane.
Hoovler said charges vary among defendants, with potential sentences ranging from probation to 15 to 30 years in prison. Three defendants are awaiting extradition, and law enforcement is actively seeking Carl Henry of East Stroudsburg, Pa., in connection with the case.

Officials displayed seized firearms, cash, and investigative diagrams at the press event, which was attended by local and federal law enforcement leaders, as well as elected officials from across Orange County.

The investigation used court-authorized wiretaps, search warrants, and undercover operations. Hoovler revealed that a recent wiretap uncovered threats to rob or harm undercover officers, prompting a swift conclusion to the takedown.

“If you are selling illegal guns in Orange County, you are not welcome here,” Hoovler said. “We will dismantle your organization. The only suitable place for you is jail.”

Other speakers included Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta; ATF Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller; DEA New York SAC Frank Tarentino; and police chiefs from Middletown, Port Jervis and Newburgh. Also in attendance were Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus, Newburgh Mayor Torrance Harvey, Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano, and Port Jervis Mayor Dominic Cicalese.

“This victory belongs to every single man and woman who played a role in the collaboration,” Harvey said. “Your actions have not only upheld the rule of law but also safeguarded countless lives.”

Neuhaus noted the contributions of undercover officers and prosecutors, many of whom remain publicly unnamed due to the nature of their work.

“Their thank-you is going home at night knowing they’ve made our community safer,” he said.

Newburgh Police Chief Brandon Rola praised the multi-agency approach.

“This case represents the power of collaboration,” Rola said. “By working closely with local, state, and federal partners, we were able to dismantle a dangerous network bringing illegal firearms and narcotics into our city.”

Hoovler said most of the firearms entered the area via FedEx shipments and confirmed that no law enforcement officers were injured during the operation. The takedown occurred on Wednesday, July 30, and involved more than 300 officers across multiple jurisdictions. The South Street property is currently not in use.