North Carolina man sentenced for firearms trafficking in Orange County

Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced that on Monday, March 2, William Pulley, 34, of Hollister, North Carolina, was sentenced in Orange County Court to an aggregate term of 12 years in prison to be followed by five years of post-release supervision relative to his guilty pleas to criminal sale of a firearm in the first degree and conspiracy in the fourth degree.

On May 21, 2024, the coordinated efforts of numerous law enforcement agencies conducted an enforcement action after a long-term investigation into firearm and narcotics trafficking in Orange County. The operation, code named “Hot Lunch”, resulted in thirty-three 33 people being charged with narcotics, firearm and conspiracy offenses. The six-month long intensive investigation into illegal firearms and narcotics trafficking in Orange County was conducted by the Orange County Drug Task Force (OCDTF), the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, together with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, the City of Middletown Police Department, New York State Police, the City of Poughkeepsie Police Department, and the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center.

The investigation revealed four different conspiracies that trafficked narcotics and firearms through Orange County. During the investigation, law enforcement recovered 24 firearms and one kilogram of cocaine. On the day of the enforcement action on May 21, 2024, police additionally recovered more than 11 kilograms of cocaine, approximately 90 grams of fentanyl, seven guns, high-capacity magazines, numerous rounds of ammunition, approximately $45,000 of US currency, scales and packaging materials used in narcotics trafficking and 10 vehicles that were instrumentalities of the crimes charged. Additionally, law enforcement seized one food truck.

At the plea proceedings on Oct. 18, 2025, Pulley admitted that he agreed with, and acted in concert with others to unlawfully sell more than ten firearms in Orange County between Nov. 28, 2023 and May 8, 2024. The investigation showed that Pulley obtained firearms to sell in North Carolina and agreed with others to have those sold illegally in Orange County, N.Y. During the commission of the crimes Pulley never actually came into Orange County, but knew he was acting illegally to have those firearms delivered to and sold in Orange County.

District Attorney Hoovler thanked the agencies involved in the investigation, as well as the following agencies who assisted in the enforcement action on May 21, 2024: City of Newburgh Police Department; Town of Newburgh Police Department; Town of Woodbury Police Department; Town of Montgomery Police Department; Town of Wallkill Police Department; and the Village of Cornwall-on-Hudson Police Department.

“If you cause illegal firearms to be sold in Orange County, you will be prosecuted even if you never set foot in New York,” said District Attorney David M. Hoovler. “Sophisticated criminal organizations that traffic in guns and drugs pose a real and present danger to our communities and we in law enforcement will not rest until those crime drivers responsible for these enterprises are identified and held accountable. Successful operations such as ‘Hot Lunch’ require the close coordination between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. This collaboration leads to excellent outcomes, like was seen in this case. I again commend the dedication of the police and prosecutors assigned to the case who delivered justice on behalf of the People of Orange County.”

The case is being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory.

A criminal charge is merely an allegation that a defendant has committed a violation of the criminal law, and it is not evidence of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent and entitled to a fair trial, during which it will be the State of New York’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.