20 Charged In 'Operation Powder Burn,' A Massive Hudson Valley Gun, Drug Trafficking Sting

ORANGE COUNTY, NY — A monthslong sting has put a major dent in the so-called "iron pipeline" of illegal guns, in a massive operation that also took an enormous stash of drugs off the streets, according to law enforcement officials.

Orange County DA David M. Hoovler, Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller of the ATF, and Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta, joined by DEA New York SAC Frank Tarentino, City of Middletown Police Chief John Ewanciw, City of Port Jervis Police Chief William Worden and City of Newburgh Police Chief Brandon Rola, announced that on Wednesday, after an eight-month-long, multi-agency investigation into firearm and narcotics trafficking in Orange County, charges were filed against twenty people.

"Operation Powder Burn" targeted an "iron pipeline conspiracy" where firearms, including handguns and assault weapons, were trafficked from Georgia and Pennsylvania into Orange County to be illegally sold to those without pistol permits. Most of the weapons were FedExed from outside of New York to co-conspirators in the City of Newburgh.

In December of 2024, law enforcement agencies, working with the Orange County Drug Task Force, launched an investigation into 40-year-old Christopher Brown, of the City of Newburgh, and his associates, who were suspected of trafficking drugs in the City of Newburgh, and in other parts of the Hudson Valley.

"This enforcement action, which resulted in the largest gun trafficking case in Orange County history, would not have been possible without the resources provided by the ATF, and the many brave local, state, and federal law enforcement officers who risk their lives every day to keep us safe," Hoovler said. "This case once again demonstrates the inevitable connection between illegal narcotics and illegal firearms. The scope and scale of this gun trafficking enterprise were truly alarming, and its deadly effects were by no means going to be confined to the City of Newburgh."

Hoovler said that because of the scope of the criminal enterprise, neighboring jurisdictions all had skin in the game.

"I applaud the farsighted decisions of the City of Middletown Police Department and City of Port Jervis Police Department, who wisely invested significant investigative resources to eliminate a source of illegal guns before it resulted in more damage in their own jurisdictions," the DA said. "I am grateful for my partnership with Sheriff Arteta in running the Orange County Drug Taskforce, as well as for its many member agencies, and for the work of the New York State Police. Only long-term investigations involving multiple agencies from different states and federal partners can disrupt and dismantle operations that traffic in guns and narcotics. As I have said time and again, if you choose to bring illegal firearms into Orange County, we will find you and we will hold you accountable."

The agencies conducted widespread surveillance, reviewed subpoenaed records, and used undercover police officers. Officials said they soon found that in addition to trafficking narcotics, Brown and his associates were also engaged in the illegal sale of firearms. During the investigation, 55 illegally possessed firearms were purchased by police officers, according to officials.

The DA applied for an eavesdropping warrant to identify who was supplying the firearms and to make sure that none of the illegally trafficked guns reached the streets. The investigation found that the firearms were mostly coming from Georgia, with a few coming from Pennsylvania, and some being received by Brown from others within the City of Newburgh, investigators said.

On Wednesday, two Orange County DA's Office criminal investigators joined ATF officials, and Georgia police, in the execution of a search warrant at the home of Dijoun Lawrence and Shorna Witter. They were charged with allegedly conspiring to send firearms to Brown, to be trafficked in the City of Newburgh. Brown often used the former site of The Kitchen restaurant, located on South Street in the City of Newburgh, to traffic firearms and narcotics, according to police.

According to the district attorney, based on the number of handguns purchased by police officers, and the information obtained through court-ordered eavesdropping, this was the largest gun trafficking case in Orange County history. After investigators found that illegal guns being trafficked by Brown and his associates were likely distributed outside of the City of Newburgh, they say the City of Middletown Police Department and the City of Port Jervis Police Department devoted significant resources to the investigation.

"DEA New York was proud to assist our law enforcement partners in targeting this violent drug trafficking organization, whose individuals were responsible for the trafficking of cocaine, fentanyl, and firearms in our communities," DEA New York Special Agent in Charge Frank Tarentino said. "As we have seen, many of these individuals use violence to conduct their illicit drug and gun trafficking business which often has senseless and deadly consequences. The DEA remains committed to protecting our communities and saving lives."

In addition to the purchase of the 55 firearms, undercover police officers also report purchasing over 700 grams of cocaine and fentanyl from Brown, which Hoovler said was enough to kill 190,000 people. Investigators say the narcotics were obtained by Brown from his suppliers, 32-year-old Shomaray Lane, of Newburgh, and 57-year-old Ian Dawes, of Queens.

Law enforcement executed several search warrants at homes in the City of Newburgh, the Bronx, Poughkeepsie, and Queens, resulting in the seizure of 12 illegally possessed guns, over four ounces of fentanyl, a half kilogram of cocaine, and over $65,000 in US currency.

"The flow of illegal firearms and narcotics into our communities poses a serious threat. Each gun recovered in this case represents a potential life saved," ATF New York Special Agent in Charge Bryan Miller said. "This investigation also underscores the value of crime gun intelligence and NIBIN, which linked multiple firearms to shootings and enabled precise, coordinated enforcement. This outcome would not have been possible without the extraordinary collaboration of our local, state, and federal partners—not only in New York, but across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. We are proud to support prosecution partners like District Attorney Hoovler and his team, and we remain committed to holding accountable those who fuel gun violence and threaten public safety."

Hudson Valley residents and their charges:

• Christopher Brown, 40, of Newburgh, was charged with first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, first-degree criminal sale of a firearm, second-degree conspiracy, fourth-degree conspiracy, third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He faces 30 years in jail. Bail-eligible.
• Shomoray Lane, 32, of Newburgh, was charged with first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, second-degree conspiracy, and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He faces 20 years in jail. Bail-eligible.
• Hamp Hunter, 40, of Poughkeepsie, was charged with second-degree criminal sale of a firearm, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree conspiracy. He faces 25 years in jail. Bail-eligible.
• Howard Hoffman, 45, of Newbugh, was charged with first-degree criminal sale of a firearm, second-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, second-degree conspiracy, two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. He faces 25 years in jail. Bail-eligible.
• Bryanna Carter, 31, of New Windsor, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, and third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. She faces 10 years in jail. Not eligible for bail.
• Monique Lane, 54, of Newburgh, was charged with second-degree conspiracy and fourth-degree conspirary. She faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in jail. Not eligible for bail.
• Regina Didley, 60, of Newburgh, was charged with fourth-degree conspiracy. She faces 1 1/3 to 4 years in jail. Not eligible for bail.
• Fitzroy Escoffery, 50, of Newburgh, was charged with first-degree criminal sale of a firearm, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree conspiracy. He faces 25 years in jail. Bail-eligible.
• Timothy Barksdale, 49, of Wallkill, was charged with second-degree conspiracy and fourth-degree conspiracy. He faces 12.5 to 25 years in jail. Not eligible for bail.
• Treasure Burton, 30, of Newburgh, was charged with fourth-degree conspiracy. She faces 1 1/3 to 4 years in jail. Not eligible for bail.
• Rohan Brown, 56, of Newburgh, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, second-degree criminal sale of a firearm, and fourth-degree conspiracy. He faces 25 years in jail. Bail-eligible.
• Kristopher Robinson, 40, of Newburgh, was charged with third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. He faces 9 years in jail. Not bail-eligible.

Non-HV residents and their charges:

• Ian Dawes, 57, of Queens, was charged with first-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance, second-degree conspiracy, and two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He faces 24 years in jail. Bail-eligible.
• Carl Henry, 52, of East Stroudsburg, PA, was charged with first-degree criminal sale of a firearm, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree conspiracy. He faces 25 years in jail. Bail-eligible.
• Matthew Chang, 47, of Albrightsville, PA, was charged with first-degree criminal sale of a firearm, second-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and fourth-degree conspiracy. He faces 25 years in jail. Bail-eligible.
• Jamaine Taylor, 38, of the Bronx, was charged with second-degree conspiracy and fourth-degree conspiracy. He faces 12.5 to 25 years in jail. Not eligible for bail.
• Shorna Witter, 30, of Stone Mountain, GA, was charged with fourth-degree conspiracy. She faces 1 1/3 to 4 years in jail. Not bail-eligible.
• Dijoun Lawrence, 22, of Stone Mountain, GA, was charged with first-degree criminal sale of a firearm. He faces 25 years in jail. Bail-eligible.
• Saamiyah Hall, 37, of the Bronx, was charged with fourth-degree conspiracy. She faces 1 1/3 to 4 years in jail. Not bail-eligible.
• Laquaner Richburg, of the Bronx, 50, was charged with second-degree conspiracy and fourth-degree conspiracy. She faces 8 1/3 to 25 years in jail. Not bail-eligible.

Three of those charged are pending extradition from other states. Authorities are asking for the public's help in finding 52-year-old Carl Henry, of East Stroudsburg Pennsylvania.

"The defendants targeted in this investigation were not just trafficking narcotics — they were knowingly placing illegally possessed firearms into the hands of criminals with no regard for the devastation that could follow," Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta said, "These weren't isolated offenses; they were part of a coordinated effort to profit off addiction and violence. Our teams, including the Special Operations Group and Drug Task Force, worked with precision and persistence to shut this network down. I'm proud of the role the Sheriff’s Office played in this historic case, and we remain committed to pursuing those who threaten the safety and stability of our communities."