Navy contractor ‘Fat Leonard’ who was behind one of US military’s largest corruption scandals sentenced to 15 years in prison

The mastermind down nan decade-long bribery strategy and 1 of nan largest corruption scandals successful US subject history that brought down dozens of Navy officials has been sentenced to 15 years successful situation Tuesday.

Leonard Glenn Francis, nicknamed “Fat Leonard,” was besides ordered to salary $20 cardinal successful restitution to nan Navy, and fined $150,000 for his domiciled successful nan scandal, according to nan US Attorney’s Office.

The 350-pound crook must forfeit $35 cardinal “in ill-gotten proceeds from his crimes.”

Francis, 60, a erstwhile subject defense contractor, admitted to offering up to $500,000 successful rate bribes, royal meats for illustration “Kobe beef” and “Spanish suckling pigs,” luxury gifts including designer handbags and watches — and moreover prostitutes — to dozens of Navy officials and defense contractors successful speech for classified accusation that gave his business a limb up connected bidding for subject contracts to work ships.

The 6-foot-3 lug’s Singapore-based contracting company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, supplied Navy vessels pinch food, water, fuel, tugboats, and sewage disposal.

However, Francis utilized nan wrong accusation he obtained done his bribes to “routinely” upcharge his company’s equipment and services, “defrauding nan US Navy of tens of millions.”

“Leonard Francis lined his pockets pinch payer dollars while undermining nan integrity of US Naval forces,” US Attorney Tara McGrath said. “The effect of his deceit and manipulation will beryllium agelong felt, but justness has been served today.”

He was besides sentenced connected Tuesday for fleeing nan country.

The scammer was first arrested successful 2013, pleaded blameworthy to bribery and fraud charges successful 2015, and faced up to 25 years successful prison.

While he awaited sentencing successful San Diego, Francis was hospitalized and treated for renal crab and different aesculapian issues and was allowed to enactment connected location apprehension astatine a rental location pinch a GPS ankle show and information guards.

However, 3 weeks earlier he was scheduled to beryllium sentenced successful September 2022, he snipped disconnected his show and fled nan US, triggering a monolithic world manhunt.

Officials said Francis fled from California to Mexico, past made his measurement to Cuba and yet ended up successful Venezuela.

A 16-day world hunt for “Fat Leonard” ended erstwhile Interpol detained him in nan Venezuelan superior of Caracas arsenic he attempted to committee a formation to Russia.

He remained successful nan South American federation until Dec. 2023, erstwhile he was extradited to nan US successful a prisoner switch pinch Venezuela.

“While I cannot reverse nan harm I’ve caused, I’ve spent overmuch of nan 11 years since my apprehension committed to taking afloat accountability and assisting nan authorities pinch its investigations,” Francis told nan judge, according to 10 News San Diego.

“In summation to violating nan spot of nan tribunal and nan government, I regret truthful overmuch that I fto down my children.”

Before his flight and pursuing his apprehension successful 2013, Francis provided authorities investigators “detailed accusation astir hundreds of Sailors, from petty officers to admirals, and turned complete financial records, photographs, receipts, and Navy contracting documents,” according to nan US Attorney’s office.

His accusation brought astir 1,000 Navy officers, including 91 admirals, nether investigation.

Federal prosecutors brought criminal charges against 34 defendants, including respective high-ranking Naval officers, utilizing nan accusation Francis provided to authorities while successful US custody.

Despite securing complete 30 convictions and blameworthy pleas, nan lawsuit faced contention erstwhile prosecutors were accused of withholding cardinal grounds from defense attorneys during nan trial.

District Judge Janis L. Sammartino deemed erstwhile lead charismatic Mark Pletcher blameworthy of “flagrant misconduct” during nan proceedings of 5 Navy officers.

Four officers were initially convicted, but those convictions were overturned.

Sammartino agreed to let them to plead blameworthy to a misdemeanor and salary a $100 good each.

Other Navy officers who pleaded blameworthy to felony charges were besides allowed to person those charges reduced to misdemeanors.

with Post wires