A Malaysian businessman has been sentenced to fifteen years in jail for his function within the US Navy’s largest corruption scandal and for skipping a earlier sentencing listening to.
Leonard Glenn Francis, often called “Fats Leonard”, pleaded responsible in 2015 to bribing senior Navy officers with hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in money, prostitutes, luxurious journey and top-shelf liquor and cigars.
In change, Francis stated he acquired categorised data and was capable of overcharge the Navy $35m (£27m) for his firm’s providers to the seventh Fleet primarily based within the Indo-Pacific.
He had been due for sentencing in 2022 however he escaped in September that year by slicing off his ankle bracelet, and was recaptured inside days.
The US Legal professional’s Workplace stated Tuesday’s sentence mirrored admissions in his 2015 responsible plea, his “in depth cooperation with the federal government”, and his responsible plea earlier on Tuesday for failing to attend the unique sentencing listening to.
The court docket additionally fined the 60-year-old $150,000 and ordered him to pay the US Navy $20m in restitution.
His firm, Singapore-based Glenn Protection Marine Asia, was additionally sentenced on Tuesday to 5 years probation and was fined $36m.
US officers stated the scandal had weakened public belief in some Navy leaders and its fallout will likely be long-felt.
Francis was arrested in California in 2013 and he pleaded responsible to bribery and fraud prices in 2015.
After his escape in September, he was recaptured days later in Venezuela whereas attempting to get to Russia.
His case got here to be often called the Fat Leonard scandal due to Francis’ rotund body at the moment.
Francis was returned to California final December underneath a prisoner swap between the US and Venezuela that noticed Washington launch an ally of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in change for 10 American detainees.
“Leonard Francis lined his pockets with taxpayer {dollars} whereas undermining the integrity of US Naval forces,” stated US Legal professional Tara McGrath in a press release.
“The affect of his deceit and manipulation will likely be lengthy felt, however justice has been served right this moment,” McGrath stated.
The bribery and corruption that Francis had “fostered” inside the US Navy over a few years was “aggravated and egregious”, however underneath custody, he helped investigators uncover “unprecedented ranges of corruption” within the institution, the US Legal professional’s Workplace stated.
Francis offered investigators with detailed data on a whole lot of sailors, from petty officers to admirals.
“Mr. Francis’ sentencing brings closure to an expansive fraud scheme that he perpetrated in opposition to the US Navy with help from varied Navy officers,” stated Kelly Mayo, Director of the defence division’s Workplace of the Inspector Common.
“Mr. Francis’ actions not solely degraded the seventh Fleet’s readiness however shook the Fleet’s belief in its management who furthered his corrupt practices,” Kelly stated.
