Navy Criminal Investigator to plead guilty to bribery

Attorney says Navy investigator will plead guilty
KNOE News
Julie Watson
Associated Press
Posted: Dec 17, 2013

SAN DIEGO (AP) - A senior U.S. Navy criminal investigator downloaded more than 100 confidential files for an Asian defense contractor at the center of a multimillion-dollar fraud investigation, prosecutors say.

In exchange, John Beliveau II accepted luxury trips from the Malaysian defense contractor, Leonard Glenn Francis, who would arrange for prostitutes to meet Beliveau, according to charging documents.

Beliveau's attorney said his client will plead guilty to bribery charges Tuesday in federal court in San Diego. The conviction will be a first for federal prosecutors in the massive scandal that has netted the arrests of three Navy officials and prompted the military branch to suspend two admirals' access to classified material.

Beliveau's lawyers and prosecutors declined to say whether Beliveau would now cooperate with authorities.

Francis, the 49-year-old CEO of Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia Ltd., or GDMA, offered bribes to Navy officers in exchange for confidential information - including ship routes, authorities say, or for following his requests to move Navy vessels to Asian ports with lax oversight so the company could inflate costs and invent tariffs by using phony port authorities.

In exchange, Francis, who is known in military circles as "Fat Leonard" because of his wide girth, lined up prostitutes, luxury hotel stays and tickets to shows for the Navy officials, including a Lady Gaga concert in Thailand, according to a criminal complaint.
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