Retired Navy admiral convicted in $500K bribery scheme faces 30 years in prison
A retired four-star admiral has been convicted of bribery and conspiracy charges, making him the highest-ranking member of the U.S. military ever convicted of committing a federal crime while on active duty. Adm. Robert P. Burke, 62, was found guilty of directing contracts to a training company in exchange for a $500,000-a-year job after leaving the Navy.
Burke, who once served as the Navy’s second-highest ranking officer, faces up to 30 years in prison for his role in the scheme. The Department of Justice announced the verdict following a five-day trial, stating that Burke abused his position and betrayed the public trust for personal gain.
According to court documents, Burke oversaw U.S. naval operations in Europe, Russia, and Africa while serving as a four-star admiral. He allegedly conspired with co-CEOs Yongchul “Charlie” Kim and Meghan Messenger of an unnamed company to secure government contracts in exchange for a lucrative job offer.
The company had provided training programs to a small part of the Navy before their contract was terminated. Despite being warned by the Navy not to contact Burke, Kim and Messenger met with him in Washington, D.C., where Burke agreed to use his influence to secure contracts worth potentially millions of dollars.
In December 2021, Burke instructed his staff to award the company a $355,000 contract to train Naval personnel in Italy and Spain. He also attempted to convince a senior Naval commander to give them another contract. Defense attorney Timothy Parlatore argued that there was no connection between the contract and Burke’s employment offer.
Both Kim and Messenger were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery. They could face up to 20 years in prison. Parlatore expressed disappointment with the verdict, citing a poorly conducted investigation and the withholding of evidence from the jury.
The DOJ has yet to respond to requests for comment on the case. Fox News Digital’s Brie Stimson contributed to the report. Stepheny Price, a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, covers topics such as missing persons, homicides, national crime cases, and illegal immigration. Story tips and ideas can be sent to stepheny.price@fox.com.
