### "Fat Leonard" Sentenced to 15 Years in Connection to Navy Corruption Scandal

In a landmark ruling, the infamous Malaysian contractor Leonard Glenn Francis, known widely as "Fat Leonard," received a 15-year prison sentence in San Diego federal court on Tuesday. This judgment closes a chapter on the most significant corruption scandal in U.S. Navy history. Taking into account time already served, Francis, aged 60, will likely face an additional 8½ years behind bars, potentially less if granted early release. U.S. District Judge Janis Sammartino also signaled her intent to order Francis to pay $20 million in restitution to the Navy. This is in addition to the $35 million he had previously agreed to forfeit as part of his plea deal.

Francis, who has rarely spoken in open court, appeared somber and contrite as he addressed the judge. Pleading for leniency to reunite with his children, he admitted, "I sincerely regret my misconduct that led to this day," acknowledging that his actions were "inexcusable and wrong." His arrest dates back to September 2013 during a sting operation in San Diego, where he subsequently pleaded guilty in 2015 to bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery, and conspiracy to defraud the United States.

The contractor's company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, which supplied goods and services to Navy vessels across Asia for 25 years, also pleaded guilty to the same charges. Further complicating his legal woes, Francis also admitted guilt on Tuesday to escaping custody and failing to appear for his 2022 sentencing.

Over the past 3,582 days, Francis became a pivotal figure in the unfolding scandal, offering "unprecedented" cooperation in 65 meetings with prosecutors. Throughout his conviction period, dramatic developments continued, including a secret medical furlough for cancer treatment, where Francis moved into a lavish mansion and recorded a podcast. These actions came to light months before he was expected to testify in a trial against five Navy officers, a testimony he never delivered. Just weeks before his September 2022 sentencing, he absconded, removing his GPS ankle monitor. He was later captured in Venezuela and returned to the U.S. late last year.

Simultaneously, authorities scrutinized around 1,000 individuals with potential ties to Francis. More than 30 individuals, mostly Navy officers, faced criminal convictions or guilty pleas, while over 600 were referred to a Navy task force to consider administrative or disciplinary actions. Despite prosecuting numerous figures connected to the scandal, revelations of trial misconduct led to some felony convictions being downgraded to misdemeanors, with one defendant's case dismissed entirely.

In addition to the judicial outcomes for various defendants, significant attention remains on Francis's financial obligations. He was noted for boasting about hiding assets between his 2013 arrest and 2015 guilty plea in a podcast recorded while on house arrest. His lavish lifestyle and his ability to avoid initial accountability underscored the extent of his corruption. Francis wined and dined Navy officers, providing bribes in the form of gourmet meals, five-star accommodations, premium alcohols, prostitutes, luxury bags, and cash. In return, Navy officials steered U.S. ships to ports controlled by Francis in Southeast Asia, where he then charged inflated prices for services.

Fallout from the scandal revealed that Francis had been a prominent figure among the 7th Fleet, attending key Navy events and cultivating relationships with officers. Investigations into his activities began as early as 2004 and continued through 2012, but none led to his arrest until 2013. Investigators eventually caught up with him by tricking an NCIS agent under his payroll into believing investigations had been dropped, thus setting the stage for his capture in San Diego.