2 weeks ago
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A Malaysian businessman has been sentenced to 15 years successful jailhouse for his relation successful the US Navy's biggest corruption ungraded and for skipping a erstwhile sentencing hearing.
Leonard Glenn Francis, known arsenic "Fat Leonard", pleaded guilty in 2015 to bribing elder Navy officials with millions of dollars successful cash, prostitutes, luxury question and top-shelf liquor and cigars.
In exchange, Francis said helium received classified accusation and was capable to overcharge the Navy $35m (£27m) for his company's services to the 7th Fleet based successful the Indo-Pacific.
He had been owed for sentencing successful 2022 but he escaped successful September that year by cutting disconnected his ankle bracelet, and was recaptured wrong days.
The US Attorney's Office said Tuesday's condemnation reflected admissions successful his 2015 blameworthy plea, his "extensive practice with the government", and his blameworthy plea earlier connected Tuesday for failing to be the archetypal sentencing hearing.
The tribunal besides fined the 60-year-old $150,000 and ordered him to wage the US Navy $20m successful restitution.
His company, Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia, was besides sentenced connected Tuesday to 5 years probation and was fined $36m.
US officials said the ungraded had weakened nationalist spot successful immoderate Navy leaders and its fallout volition beryllium long-felt.
Francis was arrested successful California successful 2013 and helium pleaded blameworthy to bribery and fraud charges in 2015.
After his flight successful September, helium was recaptured days aboriginal successful Venezuela portion trying to get to Russia.
His lawsuit came to beryllium known arsenic the Fat Leonard scandal due to the fact that of Francis' rotund framework astatine that time.
Francis was returned to California past December nether a captive swap betwixt the US and Venezuela that saw Washington merchandise an state of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro successful speech for 10 American detainees.
"Leonard Francis lined his pockets with payer dollars portion undermining the integrity of US Naval forces," said US Attorney Tara McGrath successful a statement.
"The interaction of his deceit and manipulation volition beryllium agelong felt, but justness has been served today," McGrath said.
The bribery and corruption that Francis had "fostered" wrong the US Navy implicit galore years was "aggravated and egregious", but nether custody, helium helped investigators uncover "unprecedented levels of corruption" successful the establishment, the US Attorney's Office said.
Francis provided investigators with elaborate accusation connected hundreds of sailors, from petty officers to admirals.
“Mr. Francis’ sentencing brings closure to an expansive fraud strategy that helium perpetrated against the US Navy with assistance from assorted Navy officials," said Kelly Mayo, Director of the defence department's Office of the Inspector General.
"Mr. Francis’ actions not lone degraded the 7th Fleet’s readiness but shook the Fleet’s spot successful its enactment who furthered his corrupt practices,” Kelly said.
English (US)