Orgies in Manila, lavish perks: Details emerge on US Navy bribery scandal
March 15, 2017 | 3:53pm
In this Aug. 22, 2014 file photo, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson sails out of San Diego Harbor leaving for a nine-month deployment in San Diego. The U.S. Navy is planning a fresh freedom of navigation operation around China’s man-made islands, the first under President Donald Trump, Navy Times reported, citing defense officials. The operation would most likely be carried out by the San Diego-based USS Carl Vinson carrier strike group, which began patrolling the South China Sea. It would involve sailing within 12-mile territorial waters of the island features China claims as its own, the report said.
AP Photo / Lenny Ignelzi, File
SAN DIEGO — Officers in a burgeoning Navy bribery scandal called themselves the Lion King's Harem, the Wolfpack, the Cool Kids and the Brotherhood. They scouted for others who might also accept sex, trips and other lavish perks from a Malaysian defense contractor known as "Fat Leonard" in exchange for classified information.
Allegations outlined in an indictment unsealed in San Diego on Tuesday give more details in the 3-year-old scandal that had appeared to be fading before re-emerging even bigger and more sordid than before.
Nine current and former military officers were charged in the latest indictment, including a recently retired rear admiral who collected foreign intelligence for the Navy's Seventh Fleet.
Party with prostitutes in Manila
It gives an extensive list of bribes to the officers from 2006 to 2012 from Leonard Francis in exchange for classified shipping schedules and other information to help his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia. In one example, a party with prostitutes at the Manila Hotel's MacArthur Suite during a 2007 port call to the Philippines included sex acts using historic MacArthur memorabilia.
One meal during a 2006 port visit to Hong Kong cost $20,435. A dinner during a port call to Singapore that year featured foie gras, oxtail soup, cognac that cost about $2,000 a bottle and cigars at $2,000 a box.
Prosecutors say Francis, who is nicknamed Fat Leonard for his wide girth, bilked the Navy out of nearly $35 million, largely by overcharging for his company's services supplying Navy ships in the Pacific with food, water, fuel and other necessities.
Navy officers provided classified information to Francis that helped him beat competitors and, in some instances, commanders steered ships to ports in the Pacific where his company could charge fake tariffs and fees, prosecutors said.
The latest indictment raises the number of current and former officials charged to 20 in one of the Navy's worst corruption scandals. Bruce Loveless, who recently retired, became the second admiral charged in the investigation.
Adm. John Richardson, the Navy's top officer, vowed Tuesday to repair damage caused by the scandal.
"This behavior is inconsistent with our standards and the expectations the nation has for us as military professionals," he said. "It damages the trust that the nation places in us, and is an embarrassment to the Navy."
Loveless, 53, made no substantive comments during a brief hearing hours after his arrest at his Coronado home near San Diego. Magistrate Judge Mitchell Dembin entered a not guilty plea on his behalf and ordered him released without bail. He did not yet have an attorney,
Loveless was an assistant chief of staff, responsible for assessing foreign intelligence in the Seventh Fleet's area of responsibility, which includes Southeast Asia and Australia.
"Far from doing that, over the course of many years, this defendant participated in wild sex parties," Patrick Hovakimian, an assistant U.S. attorney, told the judge. "He has shown callous disregard for his duties."
The judge also entered a not guilty plea on behalf of Enrico DeGuzman, a former Marine colonel, and allowed him to remain free. His attorney didn't respond to a request for comment.
Betrayal of US Navy 'in epic proportions'
Five other defendants were arrested Tuesday in Texas, Pennsylvania, Florida, Colorado and Virginia. None had attorneys listed in court documents.
The indictment describes how defendants collaborated to expand their group. A 2007 email from Robert Gorsuch, a chief warrant officer, to Francis says they were developing "personality profiles" on potential recruits. A 2008 email to Francis from Lt. Cmdr. Stephen Shedd says he and another defendant assessed whether an officer was corruptible and concluded, "We still need to be cautious with his participation in events."
Five executives of Francis' company also have been charged. Francis has pleaded guilty to fraud and is awaiting sentencing.
"This is a fleecing and betrayal of the United States Navy in epic proportions, and it was allegedly carried out by the Navy's highest-ranking officers," said Alana W. Robinson, the acting U.S. attorney in San Diego.
To date, 13 defendants have pleaded guilty, including another admiral who was sentenced in June and is believed to be the first active-duty Naval flag officer charged in federal court. Other cases are pending.
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