US Navy Admiral jailed over Fat Leonard bribery scheme

A US Navy Admiral has been jailed for 18 months for his role in the ‘Fat Leonard’ fraud and bribery scheme.

U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Robert Gilbeau was sentenced on Wednesday after admitting in 2016 that he lied to investigators when questioned over his relationship with Leonard Glenn Francis, the Malaysian owner of Glenn Defense Marine Asia who bribed US military officials for years in exchange for classified information.

Last year, Gilbeau admitted lying to investigators by saying he had never accepted gifts from the man which prosecutors claim included prostitutes and parties.

The 56-year-old confessed that when the pair met three times a year, Francis always picked up the tab. Their friendship dates back to 1997.

Gilbeau received gifts from Francis and met with him three times a year for extravagant dinners for at which Francis, a Malaysian citizen, always picked up the bill.

His sentence was announced on Wednesday by the US Department of Justice.

Gilbeau’s case is part of a long-running criminal probe known as the Fat Leonard case, in reference to a nickname for Francis.

‘It is truly a somber day,’ acting U.S. Attorney Alana Robinson said in a statement.

‘When tempted by parties and prostitutes, one of our most respected leaders chose karaoke over character.’

Gilbeau is free on bond and was ordered to report to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons on June 23. In a plea agreement with prosecutors, Gilbeau previously agreed to pay $50,000 in restitution to the Navy as well as a $100,000 fine.

Gilbeau’s attorney, David Benowitz, said his client accepted responsibility for making false statements, but denied inflating any invoice or accepting money for doing so.

Leonard Glenn Francis, known as ‘Fat Leonard’ at 350lbs, paid numerous US military officials for classified information over several years. Prosecutors say he bought Gilbeau expensive dinners and prostitutes

 Gilbeau admitted lying to investigators by telling them he hadn’t received any gifts from Francis in June 2016 (above entering court)

‘We respectfully disagree with the court’s sentencing decision, given Captain Gilbeau’s otherwise stellar 37 years of service to his country, during which he was awarded a Bronze Star and Purple Heart,’ Benowitz said in an email.

U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino said Gilbeau deleted documents and data files as he tried to conceal his dealings with Francis, according to a U.S. Department of Justice statement.

You dishonored your shipmates, the Navy and the United States of America,’ Sammartino told Gilbeau at a federal court in San Diego according to the Justice Department statement.

Gilbeau’s business relationship with Francis actually dated back to 1997, during which Francis plied Gilbeau with expensive gifts ranging from fine dining, luxury hotels and prostitutes, prosecutors said.

Gilbeau was in his mid-30s when he first met Francis in Bali, Indonesia, and the parties with prostitutes started right away, prosecutors said.

In return, Gilbeau signed off on contracts for services such as removing waste from U.S. aircraft carriers at highly inflated prices, prosecutors said.

Francis was arrested in September 2013 on fraud and bribery charges. He faces up to 25 years in prison after pleading guilty in January to bribery and conspiracy charges, prosecutors said.

Twenty current and former Navy officials have been charged so far in the fraud and bribery investigation, prosecutors said. Ten of those have pleaded guilty and 10 cases are pending. Also, five executives from Francis’ company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, have pleaded guilty.

Source: US Navy Admiral jailed over Fat Leonard scheme | Daily Mail Online