Undated photo of Leonard Francis
The Secretary of the Navy administratively punished a senior captain described as a linchpin in a corruption scandal that defrauded the U.S. government of more than $34.8 million and ensnared dozens of commanders and officials in the bribery and fraud investigation, according to letters obtained by USNI News. Read More
Undated photo of Leonard Francis
This post has been updated to note that USNI News reached out to the Department of Justice for comment prior to publication of this story. Additionally, an attorney representing Leonard Francis provided comment following publication of an earlier version of this story.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The investigation into the web of corruption spun by contractor Leonard Francis has wreaked havoc on the Navy’s ability to fill senior leadership roles, unintentionally stalled hundreds of officers’ careers and thinned out the service’s flag ranks, USNI News has learned. Read More
Rear Adm. Mark C. Montgomery, U.S. Pacific Command Director of Operations, gives his remarks during his Aug. 18, 2017, retirement ceremony aboard the battleship USS Missouri (BB-63) Memorial. Montgomery is retiring after 32 years of naval service. US Navy photo.
This post has been updated with a redacted copy of the letter of censure.
Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer censured a now-retired rear admiral for his involvement nearly a decade ago with a defense contractor indicted in a bribery and fraud investigation that’s netted several dozen officials, including flag and commanding officers. Read More
Undated photo of Leonard Francis
This post has been updated to include the letters of censure for Wren, Conroy and Johnson.
Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer has issued letters of censure to a retired admiral and two other senior officers who the service says accepted gifts and had an inappropriate relationship with Leonard ‘Fat Leonard’ Francis and the Glenn Defense Marine Asia company, USNI News has learned. Read More
Side boys salute Capt. John Steinberger, the off-going commander of Destroyer Squadron One, following the unit’s change of command ceremony on Naval Base San Diego in California Oct. 12, 2012. US Navy Photo
NAVAL STATION NORFOLK, Va. — The former commander of a West Coast destroyer squadron was arraigned on charges related to the sprawling ‘Fat Leonard’ investigation in a military courtroom on Tuesday. Read More
Capt. Thom W. Burke, left, and Capt. Kenneth J. Norton cut into a cake modeled after the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) during a reception following their change of command ceremony in the ship’s hangar bay. US Navy photo.
THE PENTAGON - Now-retired Rear Adm. Kenneth Norton received a letter of censure from Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer Wednesday following a review of his interactions with Glenn Defense Marine Asia – the so-called “Fat Leonard” investigation.
Vice Adm. Ted Branch, deputy chief of Naval Operations for Information Warfare. US Navy Photo
The Department of Justice will not prosecute Vice Adm. Ted Branch as part of the sprawling “Fat Leonard” corruption case and has subsequently cleared the name of the former chief of naval intelligence after three years of public suspicion, USNI News has learned. Read More
Rear Adm. Robert Gilbeau. US Navy Photo
This post has been updated with additional statements from Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson and Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus.
A senior Navy supply officer intends to plead guilty to one federal count of making a false statement as part of the ongoing and sweeping bribery and corruption investigation into the Glenn Defense Marine Asia group, the officer told USNI News in a phone interview on Thursday. Read More
Vice Adm. Jan Tighe, commander of U.S. Fleet Cyber Command/U.S. Tenth Fleet in 2015. US Navy Photo
The Pentagon is set to nominate the head of the Navy’s operational cyber arm to lead the service’s intelligence community, a person familiar with the nomination process told USNI News on Friday. Read More
Vice Adm. Ted Branch. US Navy Photo
Navy Secretary Ray Mabus defended the naval intelligence community and its director, Vice Adm. Ted Branch, after a senator criticized the Navy for continuing to have a chief of naval intelligence without clearance to view classified information. Read More
