Navy Investigating 60 Admirals In Corruption Scandal Centering On Prostitutes And Luxury Gifts

The latest fallout from the Navy’s investigation into the “Fat Leonard” corruption scandal has left 440 active duty and retired personnel, including 60 admirals, under review for their conduct.

The “Fat Leonard” scandal involved Malaysian contractor Leonard Glenn Francis, who obtained classified information in order to get huge contracts for his Glenn Defense Marine Asia company (GDMA) by offering officers expensive parties, luxury gifts, and prostitutes in ports from Vladivostok, Russia to Brisbane, Australia, according to The Washington Post.

Of the 440 people under review, according to the Navy, 230 were not guilty of misconduct. But 28 people, including two admirals, have had criminal charges filed against them by the Justice Department. Although some of the people under review may not be prosecutable in civil court, they may have committed offenses prosecutable in the military justice system.

Five people have been charged with crimes under military law; according to the Navy, 40 other people committed misconduct by violating ethics rules or other regulations, but were not charged with a criminal violation.

Last May, Admiral Robert Gilbeau was convicted of lying to investigators about his relationship with Francis; he was the first active-duty admiral convicted of a federal crime and sentenced to 18 months in jail.

In mid-August, an active-duty US Navy commander, Bobby Pitts, 48, pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud the Navy in connection with an investigation into Francis. Prosecutors said Pitts shared internal Navy documents about the investigation with Francis, and helped Francis cover up GDMA’s fraudulent practices.