Peter Biar Ajak, 42, of Maryland, has been sentenced to 46 months in prison and three years of supervised release for conspiring to illegally export weapons to South Sudan. United States District Judge Sharad H. Desai for the District of Arizona issued the sentence. Ajak’s co-defendant, Abraham Chol Keech, 46, of Utah, was previously sentenced on December 18, 2025, to 41 months in prison and three years of supervised release by the same judge. Both men pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges related to violations of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA) and the Export Control Reform Act (ECRA).
Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg stated: “From a suburb of our Nation’s capital, Ajak conspired to export U.S. weaponry to South Sudan, where he planned to lead a coup and install himself in power. Ajak discussed ways to conceal his conduct, which he knew was illegal, including by misrepresenting financial transactions as attempts to provide humanitarian aid. The National Security Division is committed to prosecuting violations of U.S. export control laws to ensure that U.S. weapons do not fall into the wrong hands.”
U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine for the District of Arizona commented: “The defendants in this case sought to bypass U.S. export control laws, with Mr. Ajak directing a conspiracy that amassed a $4M arsenal of military-grade weapons intended to effect a coup d'état of South Sudan. Thanks to federal prosecutors, agents and investigators from across the spectrum of U.S. government agencies, the plot was thwarted and the defendants were brought to justice, safeguarding our national security interests.”
John Helsing from the Defense Criminal Investigative Service said: “By disrupting an attempt to unlawfully export advanced weapons systems, this investigation helped protect U.S. forces from weapons that could potentially be utilized against them on future battlefields. As the investigative arm of DoD’s Office of Inspector General, DCIS remains fully committed to safeguarding DoD equities and ensuring that military-grade weapons do not fall into the hands of those who would endanger American service members.”
Matthew Murphy from Homeland Security Investigations Arizona added: “The defendants in this investigation knowingly sought to undermine national security by violating U.S. laws related to illegal arms trafficking and the export of weapons. As part of HSI’s core mission to investigate illicit transfers of arms to countries in turmoil, these conspirators attempted to destabilize national and international peace and security. HSI and our partners remain committed to pursuing charges against those who violate these laws.”
According to plea agreements cited in court documents between February 2023 and March 2024 Keech and Ajak tried purchasing nearly $4 million worth of controlled military-grade weapons—including Stinger missile systems, grenade launchers, machine guns/rifles—and over 3 million rounds of ammunition without proper licenses for shipment from the United States into South Sudan.
Authorities say both men knew about an existing arms embargo on South Sudan but still moved forward with their plan by discussing bribes as well as disguising shipments as humanitarian aid; they also created fake invoices meant for financial institutions’ review.
Nearly $2 million raised by defendants toward purchasing these arms was seized by authorities under forfeiture agreements reached during their plea negotiations.
The investigation involved multiple federal agencies including Homeland Security Investigations; Department Of Defense Office Of Inspector General/Defense Criminal Investigative Service; Department Of The Army Criminal Investigation Division; Department Of Commerce’s Office Of Export Enforcement; and FBI.
For more information on this case or related topics visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/az/
