Feds: Navy Secrets Bought With Hookers, Gaga Tix

[Purveyor]

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Nicknamed "Fat Leonard," the gregarious Malaysian businessman is well known by U.S. Navy commanders in the Pacific, where his company has serviced warships for 25 years.

But prosecutors in court papers say Leonard Francis worked his connections to obtain military secrets by lining up hookers, Lady Gaga tickets and other bribes for a U.S. commander, in a scandal reverberating across the Navy.

The accusations unfolding in a federal court case in San Diego signal serious national security breaches and corruption, setting off high-level meetings at the Pentagon with the threat that more people, including those of higher ranks, could be swept up as the investigation continues. A hearing Nov. 8 could set a trial date.

Navy commander Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz passed confidential information on ship routes to Francis' Singapore-based company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd., or GDMA, according to the court documents.

Misiewicz and Francis moved Navy vessels like chess pieces, diverting aircraft carriers, destroyers and other ships to Asian ports with lax oversight where Francis could inflate costs, according to the criminal complaint. The firm overcharged the Navy millions for fuel, food and other services it provided, and invented tariffs by using phony port authorities, the prosecution alleges.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_NAVY_BRIBERY_SCHEME?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2013-11-03-23-39-14

[gopiscrap]

1. Jesus Christ, wtf?

[MADem]

2. Yeah, this one is a MESS. The Navy skipper who was bagged was a "local hero"

who was adopted by an American family and came home to great acclaim.

It was all about skimming, taking money, and overcharging for port/husbandry/chandlering services.

Fucking outrageous.

If the idiot had played it 'clean' he was well on his way to flag consideration. Now, he's off to Leavenworth, the asshole.

I hate people who do this stuff. It offends me greatly.

[JDPriestly]

4. Now this is an example of the proper use of the espionage laws.

[MADem]

6. I don't think his goal was betrayal or espionage--it was craven, nastyass greed that got this guy.

He was a thief, enriching himself.

And he had the world in his hands, but money-money-money was more important than the honor and trust and responsibility of leadership. Warped priorities--talk about a betrayal of trust.

[ffr]

3. Off course! Whatever it takes to get rich.

Randy "Duke" Cunningham is from San Diego too. He was an ace Navy fighter pilot from the Vietnam war, then Navy's only ace from that war too! He later became a congressman, representing San Diego as a Republican. A once great man, now corrupt to the core. His son too, was arresting for transporting 400 lbs of MJ across several states. He's currently serving a sentence that will end in 2014 or 2015.

Some people!

[MADem]

7. He just got out of jail, I think. This past June...

I had some interactions with him before he went up the river. What a blowhard-asshole.

And that's putting it nicely. He was corrupt to the core AND he was rude, nasty, dismissive and a real shithead.

Yep-the little turd is out: http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/Jun/08/randy-duke-cunningham-future/

Since he was freed, Cunningham hasn’t responded to interview requests sent to prison officials and his family. He’s made no public announcements about where he will live, or what he plans to do.

While he was in prison, though, he said in media interviews and letters to the judge who sentenced him that he expected to live in Arkansas near his brother or in Florida with military friends. He talked about writing a memoir and being an advocate for judicial reform.

He also claimed he was duped into pleading guilty and denied that the Rancho Santa Fe house, the Rolls-Royce, the yacht named “Duke-Stir” or the Persian rugs were bribes from defense firms seeking his help landing lucrative government contracts.

He railed against the IRS, journalists and government prosecutors, bemoaning what he said was the failure of “the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth” to come out yet about his case.

They should throw him back in jail...he hasn't learned his lesson yet. Playing the "I was framed" game. Jerk.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. Please,...let it turn out Darrell Issa was involved.

[ffr]

8. :D