(ConservativeStar.com) – In 2017, a grand jury indicted nine members of the US Navy’s Seventh Fleet for receiving and conspiring to receive bribes from defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis, also known as Fat Leonard.
On January 26, one of the men, US Navy Commander Stephen Shedd, pleaded guilty to the charges against him, admitting the group accepted over $250,000 worth of bribes from the businessman. Captain Donald Hornbeck, another member of the group, admitted to accepting nearly $68,000 in bribes.
In exchange for the money, gifts, entertainment, cash, and sex they received, they provided Francis with information about classified Navy ship movements and schedules, helped him win defense bids to work on ships, and pushed through his overbilling to the tune of about $35 million.
U.S. Navy Commander Pleads Guilty in the Run Up to the Seventh Fleet Navy Bribery Trial https://t.co/Ae28BsCg6v
— US Attorney CAS (@SDCAnews) January 26, 2022
Naval Criminal Investigative Service Director, Omar Lopez, said Shedd “abused his high-level position” while serving in the Navy. The commander is the third from the group to plead guilty. Reportedly, there are dozens more who were part of Fat Leonard’s criminal ring, although the Navy has not relayed additional punishments to the public. The Department of Justice reports the investigation has led to 28 guilty pleas and a further 6 criminal charges, so far.
Shedd faces up to 20 years in prison and $500,000 in fines for his crimes. Hornbeck is facing fines of up to $250,000 and 15 years in prison.
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