A Malaysian businessman has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in the US Navy’s biggest corruption scandal and for failing to attend his previous sentencing hearing.
Leonard Glenn Francis, known as “Fat Leonard,” pleaded guilty in 2015 to bribing senior Navy officials with millions of dollars in cash, prostitutes, luxury trips, and expensive liquor and cigars.
In return, Francis said he received classified information that allowed him to overcharge the navy by $35 million (£27 million) for his company’s services to the Indo-Pacific-based Seventh Fleet.
He was scheduled to be sentenced in 2022, but in September of that year he cut off his ankle bracelet and fled, only to be rearrested within days.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Tuesday’s sentence reflects his 2015 guilty plea, his “extensive cooperation with the government” and his guilty plea earlier Tuesday for failing to appear at his initial sentencing hearing. said.
The court also fined the 60-year-old man $150,000 and ordered him to pay $20 million in restitution to the U.S. Navy.
His company, Singapore-based Glen Defense Marine Asia, was also sentenced on Tuesday to five years’ probation and a $36 million fine.
U.S. officials said the scandal has eroded public trust in some Navy leaders and will have lasting effects.
Francis was arrested in California in 2013 and pleaded guilty to bribery and fraud charges in 2015.
After fleeing in September, he was rearrested in Venezuela a few days later while trying to go to Russia.
Because of Francis’ round body shape at the time, his affair became known as the Fat Leonard Scandal.
Francisco was returned to California in December under a prisoner exchange between the United States and Venezuela that saw the release of allies of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in exchange for 10 American detainees.
“Leonard Francis enriched his own pockets with taxpayer dollars while undermining the integrity of the U.S. Navy,” U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath said in a statement.
“The effects of his deception and manipulation will be felt for a long time, but justice was served today,” McGrath said.
The bribery and corruption that Francisco “encouraged” for years within the U.S. Navy was “aggravated and egregious,” but he remains in custody as investigators uncover “unprecedented levels of corruption” within the system. The U.S. Department of Justice said he contributed to the
Francis provided investigators with detailed information about hundreds of sailors, from petty officers to admirals.
“Mr. Francis’ sentencing brings to an end the massive fraud scheme he perpetrated against the U.S. Navy with the support of various Navy officials,” said Kelly, director of the Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General. Mayo said.
“Mr. Francis’ actions not only diminished the readiness of the 7th Fleet, but also undermined the fleet’s confidence in the leadership that encouraged his corrupt practices,” Kelly said.
