A Malaysian businessman has been sentenced to fifteen years in prison for his position in the USA Army’s largest corruption scandal and for skipping a prior sentencing listening to. Leonard Glenn Francis, referred to as “Fats Leonard”, pleaded to blame in 2015 to bribing senior Army officers with tens of millions of greenbacks in money, prostitutes, luxurious shuttle and top-shelf liquor and cigars.In trade, Francis mentioned he gained labeled data and used to be in a position to overcharge the Army $35m (£27m) for his corporate’s products and services to the seventh Fleet founded within the Indo-Pacific.He have been due for sentencing in 2022 however he escaped in September that 12 months by means of reducing off his ankle bracelet, and used to be recaptured inside of days.The United States Lawyer’s Place of job mentioned Tuesday’s sentence mirrored admissions in his 2015 to blame plea, his “in depth cooperation with the federal government”, and his to blame plea previous on Tuesday for failing to wait the unique sentencing listening to.The court docket additionally fined the 60-year-old $150,000 and ordered him to pay the USA Army $20m in restitution.His corporate, Singapore-based Glenn Protection Marine Asia, used to be additionally sentenced on Tuesday to 5 years probation and used to be fined $36m.US officers mentioned the scandal had weakened public agree with in some Army leaders and its fallout will likely be long-felt. Francis used to be arrested in California in 2013 and he pleaded to blame to bribery and fraud fees in 2015.After his get away in September, he used to be recaptured days later in Venezuela whilst seeking to get to Russia.His case got here to be referred to as the Fats Leonard scandal as a result of Francis’ rotund body at the moment. Francis used to be returned to California final December beneath a prisoner change between the USA and Venezuela that noticed Washington unencumber an best friend of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in trade for 10 American detainees.”Leonard Francis coated his wallet with taxpayer bucks whilst undermining the integrity of US Naval forces,” mentioned US Lawyer Tara McGrath in a observation. “The affect of his deceit and manipulation will likely be lengthy felt, however justice has been served these days,” McGrath mentioned.The bribery and corruption that Francis had “fostered” inside of the USA Army over a few years used to be “annoyed and egregious”, however beneath custody, he helped investigators discover “remarkable ranges of corruption” within the established order, the USA Lawyer’s Place of job mentioned.Francis equipped investigators with detailed data on masses of sailors, from petty officials to admirals.“Mr. Francis’ sentencing brings closure to an expansive fraud scheme that he perpetrated in opposition to the USA Army with the aid of more than a few Army officers,” mentioned Kelly Mayo, Director of the defence division’s Place of job of the Inspector Common.”Mr. Francis’ movements now not simplest degraded the seventh Fleet’s readiness however shook the Fleet’s agree with in its management who furthered his corrupt practices,” Kelly mentioned.
