42-Year-old Sold Loaded Gun To Undercover Cop In State Police Sting

NEWBURGH, NY — An Orange County man who admitted to selling a gun to an undercover cop is facing a stiff sentence.

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that 42-year-old Morgan Secreto, of New Windsor, pleaded guilty on Jan. 16 to second degree criminal possession of a weapon for selling a loaded firearm to an undercover police officer. The District Attorney's Office will recommend that he be sentenced to 10 years in prison to be followed by five years post-release supervision when he is sentenced on March 26.

According to court documents, the New York State Police conducted an investigation in 2024 into the sale of firearms in and around the City of Newburgh. During the investigation, in July of 2024, Secreto sold a loaded Taurus .380 pistol to an undercover police officer for $1,000. The firearm was later confirmed to be operable.

The district attorney thanked the New York State Police for their investigation which led to the arrest of Secreto.

"Illegally possessed firearms are the tools of the trade for drug dealers and others intent on perpetrating violent crimes," Hoovler said. "It requires proactive policing to interrupt the illicit sale and possession of these guns before they fall into the hands of bad actors. While I fully support the right of law-abiding citizens to legally obtain firearms, those who illegally possess or sell guns endanger us all and will face severe consequences in Orange County."