Massive Scandal Involves Dozens of Navy Officials, Fraudulent Contracts, and Escape Attempt
Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis, a former military contractor behind one of the largest corruption scandals in U.S. military history, was sentenced Tuesday to 15 years in federal prison. The sentencing caps a saga that included bribery, fraud, and an international manhunt after his escape from house arrest.
Decade-Long Scheme Defrauded Navy of Millions
The former contractor and head of Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd. (GDMA) manipulated the U.S. Navy’s logistics contracts for over a decade, prosecutors said. Francis, known for his charismatic but corrupt influence, built a web of relationships with U.S. Navy officers, offering lavish gifts and expensive parties to secure lucrative supply deals across Asia. The scheme allowed him to inflate prices and bill for false services, costing the Navy millions in fraudulent charges.
U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino ordered Francis to pay $20 million in restitution, a $150,000 fine, and forfeit $35 million in proceeds.
Ties to Over Two Dozen Navy Officers
In exchange for bribes, Francis received sensitive information from Navy officials, including classified ship schedules, and directed Navy vessels to ports where his company had operations. Investigations revealed that Francis provided luxuries such as Kobe beef, concert tickets, and orchestrated events with escorts for naval officers.
In total, nearly two dozen individuals, including high-ranking officers, contractors, and defense personnel, have faced charges in connection with the scandal. Among them was an admiral — the first active-duty one in U.S. history convicted of a federal crime.
Escape Attempt and Arrest in Venezuela
In 2015, Francis pleaded guilty to bribery, fraud, and other charges and cooperated with federal authorities. But in 2022, while awaiting sentencing, he cut off his GPS ankle monitor and fled. His escape led to an international search across Mexico, Cuba, and ultimately to Venezuela, where he was arrested at the Caracas airport.
Venezuelan authorities reported that Francis was attempting to fly to Russia. He was extradited back to the U.S. in December 2023 and faced additional charges for fleeing.
Prosecutor Misconduct and Controversies in Navy Convictions
The fallout from the scandal has led to scrutiny of both Navy practices and prosecutorial conduct. The U.S. Attorney’s Office, overseeing the civilian cases to avoid military bias, encountered issues as four Navy officers’ convictions were vacated due to allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.
Judge Sammartino found that a lead prosecutor had committed “flagrant misconduct” by withholding evidence from the defense but ruled it insufficient to dismiss the case. Nonetheless, these officers were permitted to plead guilty to misdemeanor charges and paid $100 fines.
