I was talking with a Navy buddy about this. He told me that he worked for Burke many years ago and that back then, he was a straight-laced officer. My friend also told me it was a real gut-punch to read this story because it was so hard to believe given his own experiences with the man.

JP

Everyone has a price...

In 2024, defense contractor Leonard Francis, also known as "Fat Leonard", was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a decade-long bribery scheme that implicated dozens of U.S. Navy officers. He pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges including bribery and fraud, and also faced charges for failing to appear for his original sentencing hearing in 2022. Francis had been ordered to pay millions in restitution to the U.S. Navy, but escaped from house arrest and was later apprehended in Venezuela.

Four naval officers had their convictions overturned on this one. I really don't know why as there were millions of dollars involved.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
The guy was receiving about $237K for the rest of his life and he threw this away…

For what?

a $500,000 annual salary and 100,000 stock options.

quote:

Originally posted by ZSMICHAEL:
In 2024, defense contractor Leonard Francis, also known as "Fat Leonard", was sentenced to 15 years in prison for his role in a decade-long bribery scheme that implicated dozens of U.S. Navy officers. He pleaded guilty in 2015 to charges including bribery and fraud, and also faced charges for failing to appear for his original sentencing hearing in 2022. Francis had been ordered to pay millions in restitution to the U.S. Navy, but escaped from house arrest and was later apprehended in Venezuela.

Four naval officers had their convictions overturned on this one. I really don't know why as there were millions of dollars involved.

Federal prosecutors admit errors, ‘serious issues’ in ‘Fat Leonard’ trial of former naval officers

Like the OJ trail, prosecutors and investigators f-d up. NCIS doesn't have a stellar reputation for professionalism or, competence, see the prosecution of the accused USS Bonhomme Richard arsonist Ryan Mays, SEAL Edward Gallagher murder case and USMC Maj Fred Gavin's MARSOC unit's decade long fight of wrongful prosecution.

quote:

U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino said the misconduct by prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego “can only be described as outrageous.”

She said defense attorneys for the four former officers have spent more than a year challenging their clients’ convictions and uncovering misdeeds by prosecutors, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office never responded.

“The only reasonable inference is that the allegations cannot and will not be justified or ever defended by the government,” said Sammartino, who for the past decade has presided over nearly all hearings related to the sprawling web of criminal cases connected to military contractor Leonard Glenn Francis and his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Ko, who was brought onto the case after last year’s trial, said that while his office did not agree with every allegation of misconduct, it did acknowledge some of the allegations levied by defense lawyers were true. He did not specify which his office agreed with and which it did not.

quote:

Originally posted by smlsig:
The guy was receiving about $237K for the rest of his life and he threw this away…

For what?

Apparently for possible prison time, fines, felony conviction, disgraceful end to an illustrious career and perhaps loss of his pension.

quote:

The guy was receiving about $237K for the rest of his life and he threw this away…

He hasn't lost rank or retirement...yet. Federal court cannot do that; military courts martial can. You would have to ask the Justice Department why they chose to prosecute this case ILO the Navy. I suspect it might have been his rank and finding a panel of officers/peers to conduct a courts martial.

quote:

Originally posted by calugo:

quote:

Originally posted by captain127:
Maybe it is a greed thing, or living beyond your means, but i don’t see myself searching out an executive level job ( or any job really) if I retired as a 4 star with the associated pay and benefits.

General officers are workaholics and in many instances still young enough when they retire to pursue a second career in a job where they easily make 6 figures. So they end up with a six figure retirement and a six figure civilian job which satisfies their need to work and boosts their income for life.

Exactly, saw this all the time in DoD contracting. It's a natural progression and practical shoe-in for all parties involved except the govt.

Another thing I saw a few times that was unusual, at least for me since I never worked in the Pentagon, were a few O5s that were extremely young for that rank. I remember wondering how they accomplished that, and all I could think of was they were super achievers. They show up in all fields of endeavor and the arts. Its always impressive. Lots of 04s chose to retire instead of promoting to 05 because they didn't want to add another round of sea duty. Understandable. Also senior NCOs that pass up the next promotion because their wives didn't want them dead. Understandable too. But the one I felt bad for was the guy who left the Marines because his wife didn't want him to continue flying the Harrier. Hearing that hurt a little, since I've always admired military aviation in any form. I felt bad for him, though nothing was ever spoken about it. And he was young, which just made it worse for me, thinking he chose to jettison a fine career in military aviation, because his wife was afraid of him getting dead. Well it was a Harrier, but that didn't cut if for me. Military Aviation has it's own set of risks, but I've always thought it was worth it. Though once a classmate in graduation school, a retired military fighter pilot, said virtually all of his friends that died in aviation had nothing to do with equipment failure. I thought that was very interesting, esp coming from him.