More Charges In “Fat Leonard” Fraud

According to a federal indictment, Leonard Glenn Francis, aka “Fat Leonard,” owner and CEO of Glenn Defense Marine Asia, entertained U.S. Navy officers at parties at luxury hotels where the services of prostitutes were the main entertainment. He also paid cash bribes to the officers as a routine part of his business strategy. His Singapore-based company provided tugboats, security, fuel, food, water and trash removal to U.S. Navy ships during port visits across Asia. In 2015 he pleaded guilty to directing a decade-long conspiracy involving scores of U.S. Navy officials, tens of millions of dollars in fraud, and millions of dollars in bribes. Now a retired U.S. Navy captain and two senior enlisted men have been charged with taking bribes from Fat Leonard. All three were charged with conspiracy to commit honest services fraud. They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. They’re also charged with helping recruit other U.S. Navy officers to join the conspiracy. The DOJ has so far charged 32 defendants in the massive scandal. Twenty have pleaded guilty.