Anthony Nelson of Poughkeepsie Sentenced to 6 to 12 Years for Conspiracy

Anthony Nelson, 56, of Poughkeepsie, was sentenced in Orange County Court to six to twelve years in New York State prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy in the second degree, Orange County District Attorney David M. Hoovler announced on February 18, 2026. The plea and sentence were entered in Goshen; Senior Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory is prosecuting the related cases.

The conviction stems from Operation Hot Lunch, a six-month multi-agency investigation into illegal firearms and narcotics trafficking across Orange and Dutchess counties that earned its name after drugs were sold from a food truck parked in front of the Newburgh City Courthouse, Midhudsonnews reported. Midhudsonnews described the probe as believed to be the largest narcotics and gun trafficking case in Orange County history.

Midhudsonnews reported that on the coordinated enforcement action on May 21, 2024, police recovered over 11 kilos of cocaine, some 90 grams of fentanyl, seven guns, high-capacity magazines, materials used in narcotics trafficking and 10 vehicles that were used in the crimes. The same outlet also reported that during the wider investigation authorities recovered 24 firearms along with one kilogram of cocaine, figures that likely reflect investigative seizures versus enforcement-day recoveries.

Separate reporting tied to individual defendants shows the operation produced multiple large seizures. Patch and Dailyvoice reported that Owen Beckford, also known as Marvin Ottley, 55, of Newburgh, pleaded guilty to operating as a major trafficker and second-degree conspiracy and was sentenced to an aggregate term of 15 years in prison; police recovered 9.5 kilograms of cocaine from a Newburgh apartment Beckford used to store drugs, and court filings said Beckford admitted possession of cocaine valued at $75,000 or more within a six-month period. Patch reported Beckford was ordered to forfeit $8,909 as part of his sentence. TimesHudsonValley reported that Andre Smith, 39, of Poughkeepsie, pleaded guilty to first-degree criminal sale of a firearm and was sentenced to 15 years in state prison followed by five years of post-release supervision, admitting sales of three or more firearms between April 28 and May 8, 2024.

District Attorney David M. Hoovler released a statement tied to Nelson’s sentencing that preserved the county’s account of the investigation and prosecution: “The sentence imposed in this case is yet further proof of the success of Operation Hot Lunch. It takes the cooperation of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, together with dedicated prosecutors to see cases like this through. We remain committed to keeping Orange County safe from the dangers of narcotics. We will continue to leverage all available resources in these efforts on behalf of the residents of Orange County.” The county press release also noted, “The cases are being prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Alexis Gregory.”

“A criminal charge is merely an allegation by the police 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.”

Coverage of Operation Hot Lunch named a broad coalition of law enforcement partners: the Orange County Drug Task Force, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Orange County District Attorney’s Office, City of Middletown Police Department, New York State Police, City of Poughkeepsie Police Department and the Hudson Valley Crime Analysis Center, according to Patch. Reporting differs on the total number charged in the probe; Midhudsonnews and Patch reported 26 people charged or arrested, while TimesHudsonValley reported that the operation resulted in charges against 33 people for narcotics, firearm and conspiracy offenses.

Nelson’s sentence adds to a string of prison terms from the same investigation, including Beckford’s 15-year aggregate term and Smith’s 15-year sentence with post-release supervision, underscoring prosecutors’ continuing efforts to dismantle the networks identified in Operation Hot Lunch.