Orange county man pleads guilty to selling loaded firearm to undercover officer

Orange County man pleads guilty to selling loaded firearm to undercover officer

Posted by
1 min read
January 23, 2025

GOSHEN, N.Y. — A New Windsor man pleaded guilty to criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree after selling a loaded firearm to an undercover police officer, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced Wednesday.

Morgan Secreto, 42, admitted in court on January 16, 2025, to selling a loaded Taurus .380 pistol to an undercover New York State Police officer in July 2024 in exchange for $1,000. The firearm was later determined to be operable. Under the terms of the plea agreement, the District Attorney’s Office will recommend a sentence of 10 years in prison, followed by five years of post-release supervision, when Secreto is sentenced on March 26, 2025.

The transaction was part of a broader New York State Police investigation into illegal firearm sales in and around the City of Newburgh. During the plea proceedings, Secreto admitted to possessing the loaded weapon at the time of the sale.

“Illegally possessed firearms are the tools of the trade for drug dealers and others intent on perpetrating violent crimes,” said District Attorney Hoovler. “Those who illegally possess or sell guns endanger us all and will face severe consequences in Orange County.”

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.

Don't Miss

Exit mobile version