‘Fat Leonard’ mastermind behind largest corruption scandal in US military history sentenced to 15 years

Leonard Glenn Francis, better known as “Fat Leonard,” has finally been sentenced after 11 years since his initial arrest for orchestrating one of the biggest bribery and corruption scandals in U.S. military history. The former military defense contractor has been handed a 15-year prison sentence for his decade-long scheme involving numerous U.S. Navy officials. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy and a $150,000 fine, as confirmed by the U.S. Attorney’s office.

This sentencing comes after a series of events that saw Francis evade the authorities by cutting off his GPS monitor and fleeing the country. He was eventually apprehended in Venezuela in 2023 and brought back to the U.S. to face justice.

Francis’s sentence encompasses not only his involvement in the bribery scandal but also his escape from custody. He will receive credit for the time he spent in custody both in the U.S. and Venezuela, totaling more than 6 years.

The elaborate scheme involved Francis providing free meals, prostitutes, and other forms of bribery to Naval personnel in exchange for their assistance in securing port visits by Naval vessels to locations under his control. Subsequently, he would overcharge the Navy by more than $35 million for his services, according to prosecutors.

U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath expressed, “Leonard Francis lined his pockets with taxpayer dollars while undermining the integrity of U.S. Naval forces. The impact of his deceit and manipulation will be long felt, but justice has been served today.”

While Francis’s actions were deemed “aggravated and egregious,” prosecutors acknowledged his cooperation in providing detailed information on hundreds of individuals involved in the scandal, ranging from petty officers to high-ranking officials.

Following Francis’s arrest, nearly 1,000 Navy officers, including 91 admirals, came under investigation. Federal prosecutors brought charges against 34 defendants, with 33 of them being convicted based on the information provided by Francis during his time in custody.

The saga of “Fat Leonard” serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of corruption and bribery within the military. The sentencing of such a high-profile figure sends a strong message about the U.S. government’s commitment to upholding integrity and accountability within its armed forces.