GOSHEN – Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler has announced that Kirkland Salmon, 44, of Newburgh, has been sentenced to 12 years in prison and five years of post-release supervision after pleading guilty to first-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, first-degree criminal sale of a firearm, and conspiracy charges.
He also forfeited a vehicle and a food truck tied to the crimes. Salmon’s conviction stems from “Operation Hot Lunch,” a six-month, multi-agency investigation into gun and drug trafficking in Orange County that led to 26 arrests.
Authorities said Salmon played a central role in multiple conspiracies, distributing cocaine from a Newburgh food truck and reselling firearms supplied by co-conspirators.
“The significant sentence imposed on this defendant, who was a central player in the wide-ranging gun and drug conspiracy uncovered by Operation Hot Lunch, reflects the real and present danger these crimes pose to our community,” Hoovler said. “We have seen the effectiveness of dedicated, long-term investigations that are possible only through the coordinated efforts of law enforcement and prosecutors. This case stands as a reaffirmation of the commitment of my office to keeping our streets safe from the scourge of drugs and the corresponding violence often found in its wake.”
The investigation resulted in the seizure of more than 12 kilograms of cocaine, fentanyl, over 30 firearms, cash, and other trafficking materials.
Hoovler called the sentence a reflection of the “real and present danger” posed by gun and drug trafficking, while law enforcement partners emphasized their continued commitment to dismantling such operations.
“This defendant built a business model around poisoning our community with drugs and illegal firearms, and today’s sentence reflects the seriousness of those crimes,” Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta added. “Operations like this succeed because agencies stand shoulder to shoulder with a single purpose: to protect the public. We will continue to identify, investigate, and dismantle the organizations that bring violence and addiction into Orange County.”