Summary
- War Dogs explores the ethics of arms dealing and government contracts, based on the true story of David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli.
- The movie takes creative liberties but stays true to the backstories and motivations of the characters, depicting their arms dealings with the US government.
- David Packouz received a more lenient sentence due to his cooperation with authorities, while Efraim Diveroli served time in federal prison.
War Dogs follows two low-level arms dealers, David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli, who won a $300 million contract from the Pentagon to arm America's allies in Afghanistan, yet the movie doesn't go into detail about what happened to the pair after film ends. The 2016 crime comedy explored the ethics of weapons manufacturing and profiting off war. It was directed by Todd Phillips, known for The Hangover and Joker, and stars Jonah Hill and Miles Teller. War Dogs is based on a true story, but the movie takes some creative liberties for dramatic effect.
War Dogs embellishes certain elements, most notably the action-packed sequences and dangerous situations that the characters find themselves. Even the kidnapping of Packouz by a character played by Bradley Cooper did not actually happen. Yet War Dogs is not among the most inaccurate "true story" movies ever made. It remains true to the backstories, motivations, and characterization of Packouz and Diveroli, who were dealing arms and secured lucrative deals with the US government. Here's what happened to the real David Packouz and Efraim Diveroli following the events depicted in the movie.
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Efraim Diveroli's Prison Sentence Explained
He Was Sentenced To Four Years In Federal Prison in January 2011
Efraim Diveroli was sentenced to four years in federal prison for his role in supplying Chinese ammunition to Afghanistan under the guise of Albanian origin, violating the American arms embargo against China. Diveroli operated AEY, Inc., a major weapons contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense, which was suspended by the U.S. government on March 27, 2008, for these contractual violations. The incident prompted a significant review of the U.S. Army's contracting procedures and brought Diveroli and his partner, David Packouz, into the public eye.
(Diveroli) pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in August 2008 and was sentenced in January 2011, with additional penalties for possessing a weapon while out on bond.
AEY, Inc. had secured over $200 million in contracts in 2007 to supply ammunition, rifles, and other weapons, but the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform deemed much of the ammunition "unserviceable." AEY had also failed to fulfill several other contracts. Despite awaiting trial, Diveroli continued selling arms through another company, Ammoworks. He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy in August 2008 and was sentenced in January 2011, with additional penalties for possessing a weapon while out on bond. His cooperation with the investigation led to a reduced sentence.
Why David Packouz Wasn't Sent To Prison For His Role In AEY
He Received A More Lenient Sentence Because He Cooperated With The Federal Authorities
Despite being charged with fraud and conspiracy alongside Efraim Diveroli, David Packouz received a notably lighter sentence of seven months of house arrest. This leniency was primarily due to Packouz's cooperation with the authorities. In an interview with The Rolling Stone, Packouz admitted, "I realized I was going to get caught no matter what I did, so I turned myself in." By assisting in the investigation and providing crucial information about AEY, Inc.'s operations and Diveroli's actions, Packouz helped the prosecution build a case against Diveroli. His cooperation was a significant factor in the court's decision to impose house arrest rather than a prison sentence.
David Packouz received a notably lighter sentence of seven months of house arrest due to his cooperation with the authorities.
Furthermore, Packouz's cooperation was seen as a mitigating factor that distinguished his level of culpability from Diveroli's. While Diveroli, as the primary operator of AEY, Inc., faced a harsher penalty of four years in prison, Packouz's willingness to testify and assist in the legal proceedings showcased his lesser involvement in the scheme's most egregious aspects. In addition to cooperating with authorities, Packouz expressed remorse for the "embarrassment, stress and heartache that I have caused" (via Rolling Stone) – a sentiment that also affected his sentence.
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David Packouz's War Dogs Academy Explained
It Teaches People How To Navigate the Complexities Of Government Contracting
Following the release of War Dogs, David Packouz co-founded War Dogs Academy, an online educational platform tailored to those interested in government contracting. Alongside Packouz are Logan Gross and James Sciales, who, like Packouz, achieved notable success in securing millions of dollars in U.S. government contracts in their early twenties. War Dogs Academy positions itself as a community-driven initiative, offering step-by-step guidance on navigating the complexities of government contracting.
According to the War Dogs Academy website, the company's mission is "to be the leading community based, step by step guide on government contracting," pledging to teach clients "how to create a business, register with the government, find opportunities, and submit and win proposals to the U.S. government." Although Packouz plays a prominent role in the business, Diveroli has no involvement – despite the pair's shared history.