Fat Leonard Sentenced to 15 Years for Orchestrating the LargestBribery Scandal in US Navy History
San Diego, California – LeonardGlenn Francis, the former defense contractor known as Fat Leonard, was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Monday for orchestrating a decade-long briberyscheme that involved dozens of US Navy officers. The sentencing, handed down by US District Judge Janis L. Sammartino, marks the culmination of a sprawling corruption scandalthat has shaken the US Navy to its core.
Francis, who earned his nickname due to his substantial weight, was the owner of Glenn Defense Marine Asia (GDMA), a company that provided logistical support to US Navy ships in the Pacific.He was accused of bribing a vast network of Navy officials with lavish gifts, including Kobe beef, expensive cigars, concert tickets, and extravagant parties in luxurious hotels across Asia. In exchange for these favors, Francis received classified information, includingship schedules and details of sensitive development contracts, which he used to steer lucrative contracts towards his company.
Francis’s scheme was a betrayal of the trust placed in him by the United States Navy, said US Attorney Janis L. Sammartino. He corrupted a significant number of Navy officers, compromising the integrity of theNavy and jeopardizing national security.
The scandal first came to light in 2013 when Francis was arrested in San Diego. He pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges of bribery and conspiracy, admitting to bribing a large number of Navy officers. The investigation, which involved the FBI,Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and the Department of Justice, uncovered a shocking level of corruption within the Navy.
Over 440 Navy personnel, including 60 admirals, were investigated for their involvement in the scandal. Many have pleaded guilty or been convicted of accepting bribes from Francis. The scandal hasled to widespread calls for reform within the Navy, with concerns raised about the lack of oversight and accountability within the service.
In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Sammartino ordered Francis to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy and a $150,000 fine. He also orderedthe forfeiture of $35 million in proceeds from his criminal activities.
The sentencing of Francis brings a sense of closure to a scandal that has cast a long shadow over the US Navy. However, the full impact of the scandal is still being felt, with ongoing investigations and calls for reform continuing to reverberate throughout theservice.
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