This post has been updated to remove a reference from the published trial brief from the prosecution that was not part of the trial.
A jury convicted former Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Robert Burke of four counts related to what prosecutors call a bribery scheme to get Navy contracts in exchange for a post-retirement job.
Burke was convicted of one count each of bribery, conspiracy to commit bribery, affecting personal financial interest and false official statement in connection to his relationship with executive training Next Jump.
Prosecutors said Burke routed contracts to Next Jump in 2020 and 2021 in exchange for a position at the company after his retirement, according to the government’s trial brief. Next Jump chief executives Meghan Messenger and Yongchul “Charlie” Kim have also been charged. The three were originally to be tried together, until Messenger and Kim motioned to be tried separately from Burke.
The Navy had previously contracted with Next Jump but ended the pilot program within a year due to it being poorly received, according to the government’s trial brief. That led the Next Jump leaders to reach out to Burke in order to secure another contract, despite the Navy ordering Burke to no longer have contact with them.
The government claims in the brief that Burke concealed his meetings from the Navy because he knew his actions were wrong.
According to the government’s brief, Burke used his positions to force subordinate commanders to contract with Next Jump, despite poor reviews of the product.
The government argued in the brief that Burke did not inform the Navy that he accepted a job with Next Jump or that he discussed the job with Messenger or Kim.
Burke plans to appeal, his attorney, Tim Parlatore, told USNI News. The appeal will center on introducing more evidence that demonstrates Burke’s innocence.
“I think the jury got it wrong, but I don’t blame the jury,” Parlatore told USNI News. “The jury wasn’t given the full story. They weren’t given all the evidence.”
Burke’s sentencing is set for August.
