## Navy Contractor “Fat Leonard” Sentenced to 15 Years for Bribery Scandal
Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis, a former military defense contractor, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for orchestrating a decade-long bribery scheme that ensnared numerous U.S. Navy officers. Francis, who pleaded guilty in 2015, admitted to bribing officials with lavish gifts in exchange for classified information and favorable treatment for his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd. (GDMA). The scheme, which defrauded the Navy out of at least $35 million, resulted in the conviction of nearly two dozen individuals, including a high-ranking admiral. Francis, who escaped house arrest in 2022, was later apprehended in Venezuela and extradited to the United States. His sentence includes restitution payments to the Navy and a hefty fine.
John Q. Hosedrinker