Former U.S. Navy contractor Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis was sentenced to 15 years in prison for masterminding a massive decade-long bribery and fraud scheme that involved numerous U.S. Navy officials. This scandal, one of the largest in military history, resulted in millions of taxpayer dollars being misappropriated and undermined the integrity of the U.S. Navy.
Francis, the owner of Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd. (GDMA), which provided logistical services to U.S. Navy vessels in Asia, manipulated Navy officers for over 20 years with bribes in the form of luxury gifts, lavish parties, and other indulgences. In exchange, these officers provided him with classified information, helped him overcharge for services, and even rerouted Navy ships to ports that were lucrative for his company.
In addition to his prison term, U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino imposed a restitution of $20 million to the U.S. Navy and a $150,000 fine. Francis will also forfeit $35 million in ill-gotten proceeds.
The sentencing follows a string of legal proceedings since Francis’ initial guilty plea in 2015 for bribery and fraud. He cooperated extensively with the government in exchange for a reduced sentence but created further complications by fleeing the country in 2022 just before his scheduled sentencing. He was apprehended in Venezuela and extradited back to the U.S. in December 2023.
U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath highlighted the far-reaching impact of Francis’ actions: “Leonard Francis lined his pockets with taxpayer dollars while undermining the integrity of U.S. Naval forces. The impact of his deceit will be long felt, but justice has been served today.”
Prosecutors indicated that the Francis case led to one of the most significant corruption investigations in U.S. military history. Nearly two dozen Navy officers and defense contractors have been convicted in connection with the scandal.
Francis, who was hospitalized while awaiting sentencing for medical issues, will serve his sentences consecutively — over 13 years for bribery and fraud charges, and an additional 16 months for evading sentencing.
Though defense attorney William Douglas Sprague argued for a reduced sentence citing Francis’ cooperation, the court deemed his crimes too serious to warrant leniency. “Unfortunately, as Leonard acknowledged, his greed drove him to commit bribery and fraud,” Sprague commented.
The case also sparked controversy within the military justice system, with some felony convictions of former Navy officers vacated due to allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. Despite these challenges, the conviction of Francis marks a critical chapter in holding individuals accountable for fraud and corruption in the U.S. military.
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