Introduction

Former military defense contractor Leonard “Fat Leonard” Francis has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for orchestrating one of the most significant bribery schemes in US military history, impacting numerous Navy officers over the past decade.

Sentencing Details

Federal prosecutors revealed that Leonard was also ordered to pay a staggering $20 million in restitution to the Navy, along with a $150,000 fine, and must forfeit $35 million in profits acquired through his illegal activities.

Guilty Pleas and Escape

The sentence follows Leonard’s guilty plea in 2015 related to bribery and fraud, as well as his recent guilty plea for failing to appear in court for his original sentencing hearing in 2022. The case saw its dramatic turn when Leonard, who was under house arrest wearing a GPS monitor, cut it off and fled the country shortly before his scheduled sentencing.

Capture and Sentencing

He was apprehended in Venezuela and brought back to the US in December 2023. US District Judge Janis L. Sammartino condemned Leonard’s actions, sentencing him to 13½ years for bribery and fraud, and an additional 16 months for his escape attempt.

Impact and Scale of the Scheme

The investigation into Francis's actions led to the highest-profile bribery case involving the Navy, culminating in the convictions of nearly two dozen Navy officials and defense contractors for various counts of fraud and corruption.

Lifestyle and Tactics

Francis, a larger-than-life figure at 6 feet 3 inches and tipping the scales at 350 pounds, operated Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd (GDMA), a family business that provided crucial services to US Navy ships in Asia for over two decades. Through lavish gifts that included gourmet Kobe beef, expensive cigars, VIP concert tickets, and extravagant parties across luxury hotels in Thailand and the Philippines, Leonard gained undue favor from Navy officers.

Consequences of the Bribery