Malaysian businessman Leonard Glenn Francis, also known as “Fat Leonard,” has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for orchestrating the largest corruption scandal in US Navy history. Francis pleaded guilty in 2015 to bribing high-ranking Navy officials with cash, luxury travel, prostitutes, expensive alcohol, and cigars in exchange for classified information. This allowed his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, to overcharge the Navy by $35 million for its services to the 7th Fleet in the Indo-Pacific region.
Initially set to be sentenced in 2022, Francis escaped by cutting off his ankle monitor, only to be recaptured in Venezuela days later. He was returned to the United States under a prisoner swap with Venezuela last December. Along with the prison sentence, he was fined $150,000 and ordered to pay $20 million in restitution to the US Navy.
Francis’ cooperation with investigators helped uncover widespread corruption involving numerous Navy personnel, from petty officers to admirals. His company received a separate sentence, including a $36 million fine and five years of probation. The scandal has had a lasting impact, eroding public trust in Navy leadership and compromising the readiness of the 7th Fleet, officials said.
US Attorney Tara McGrath emphasized that Francis’ actions undermined the integrity of US Naval forces, while Kelly Mayo, Director of the Defense Department’s Office of the Inspector General, highlighted the lasting effects on the fleet’s trust in its leaders who facilitated Francis’ fraudulent activities.
