'Fat Leonard' conspiracy case fizzles more than a decade after contractor's arrest

For two decades contractor Leonard Glenn Francis wined, dined and bribed senior navy officers who helped him make millions defrauding the U.S. government. Now, more than 11 years after his arrest in San Diego, he’s finally set to be sentenced to prison. KPBS military reporter Andrew Dyer has more on how we got here.

After the Cold War the Navy closed its Subic Bay base in the Philippines — its main support base in Southeast Asia. This helped open ship husbanding work to contractors. Husbanding involves caring for everything a large warship and thousands of sailors might need when in port — food, supplies and in some cases, security. All things Francis’ company provided, at a steep price.

He made it a point to be photographed with Navy brass at functions. He'd throw lavish parties for the officers of visiting ships with fine food, wine and often, prostitutes.Leonard Francis, a Malaysian defense contractor nicknamed"Fat Leonard," who orchestrated one of the largest bribery scandals in U.S. military history, has been arrested in Venezuela after fleeing before his sentencing, authorities said.

"He's big and intimidating," Schaus said."After he figured out I wasn't going to back down or move out of his face, he sat down and banged on the table a few times." More than 30 people, including an admiral and an NCIS agent, pleaded guilty to bribery and conspiracy-related charges. Other officers were court-martialed. Hundreds were investigated and dozens received administrative punishment, Navy records show.

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