Kojo Owusu Dartey is shown here with one of his barrels of rice and weapons.
Found Guilty of Arms Smuggling
Last week, a military officer from Fort Liberty was found guilty of arms smuggling to West Africa and making false statements to a grand jury. Major Kojo Owusu Dartey, aged 42, could receive up to 20 months in prison at his sentencing in June. His convictions from the April 23 verdict include unauthorized firearm dealings, undisclosed firearm deliveries, smuggling, illegal firearm exports, lying to a U.S. agency, false court declarations, and conspiracy.
The trial, which lasted four days, resulted in Dartey being acquitted of obstructing justice and five charges of lying to gun dealers.
U.S. Attorney Michael Easley for North Carolina’s Eastern District detailed that Dartey acquired seven guns around Fort Liberty between June 28 and July 2, 2021. He also coordinated with a staff sergeant at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to buy and send three additional guns to him in North Carolina.
The accusation further states that the staff sergeant bought the arms from the Fort Campbell PX while Dartey, nicknamed Killa K, bought others at the Fort Liberty PX and various gun and pawn shops in Fayetteville.
A Variety of Weapons and Suppressors Were Seized
Dartey concealed the assortment of weapons — which included several handguns, an AR15, 50-round magazines, suppressors, and a combat shotgun — within rice and household items in blue barrels. These were then illegally exported aboard a container ship from Baltimore’s Port to Tema, Ghana.
The firearms were intercepted by authorities in Ghana, who then notified the DEA attache in Ghana and the ATF in Baltimore, as per the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Additionally, Dartey was a witness in a separate case regarding a marriage fraud scheme involving 16 defendants, comprising soldiers at Fort Liberty and Ghanaian citizens, which he had previously reported to authorities.
Found Guilty of Arms Smuggling
Last week, a military officer from Fort Liberty was found guilty of arms smuggling to West Africa and making false statements to a grand jury. Major Kojo Owusu Dartey, aged 42, could receive up to 20 months in prison at his sentencing in June. His convictions from the April 23 verdict include unauthorized firearm dealings, undisclosed firearm deliveries, smuggling, illegal firearm exports, lying to a U.S. agency, false court declarations, and conspiracy.
The trial, which lasted four days, resulted in Dartey being acquitted of obstructing justice and five charges of lying to gun dealers.
U.S. Attorney Michael Easley for North Carolina’s Eastern District detailed that Dartey acquired seven guns around Fort Liberty between June 28 and July 2, 2021. He also coordinated with a staff sergeant at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to buy and send three additional guns to him in North Carolina.
The accusation further states that the staff sergeant bought the arms from the Fort Campbell PX while Dartey, nicknamed Killa K, bought others at the Fort Liberty PX and various gun and pawn shops in Fayetteville.
A Variety of Weapons and Suppressors Were Seized
Dartey concealed the assortment of weapons — which included several handguns, an AR15, 50-round magazines, suppressors, and a combat shotgun — within rice and household items in blue barrels. These were then illegally exported aboard a container ship from Baltimore’s Port to Tema, Ghana.
The firearms were intercepted by authorities in Ghana, who then notified the DEA attache in Ghana and the ATF in Baltimore, as per the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Additionally, Dartey was a witness in a separate case regarding a marriage fraud scheme involving 16 defendants, comprising soldiers at Fort Liberty and Ghanaian citizens, which he had previously reported to authorities.
In the lead-up to his trial, Dartey misled federal agents about his intimate involvement with a defense witness and falsely denied the relationship under oath in court, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Dartey was indicted and arrested in May 2023. Charges against his alleged accomplice, George Archer, are still ongoing.
As someone who’s seen what happens when the truth is distorted, I know how unfair it feels when those who’ve sacrificed the most lose their voice. At SOFREP, our veteran journalists, who once fought for freedom, now fight to bring you unfiltered, real-world intel. But without your support, we risk losing this vital source of truth. By subscribing, you’re not just leveling the playing field—you’re standing with those who’ve already given so much, ensuring they continue to serve by delivering stories that matter. Every subscription means we can hire more veterans and keep their hard-earned knowledge in the fight. Don’t let their voices be silenced. Please consider subscribing now.
One team, one fight,
Brandon Webb former Navy SEAL, Bestselling Author and Editor-in-Chief
Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 75 State Department-approved countries around the world.
PO Box 1077 MURFREESBORO, Tennessee 37133 United States
Scrubba Wash Bag
Our ultra-portable washing machine makes your journey easier. This convenient, pocket-sized travel companion allows you to travel lighter while helping you save money, time and water.
Our roots in shooting sports started off back in 1996 with our founder and CEO, Josh Ungier. His love of airguns took hold of our company from day one and we became the first e-commerce retailer dedicated to airguns, optics, ammo, and accessories. Over the next 25 years, customers turned to us for our unmatched product selection, great advice, education, and continued support of the sport and airgun industry.
COMMENTS
There are
You must become a subscriber or login to view or post comments on this article.