{"id":23818,"date":"2016-05-30T15:55:34","date_gmt":"2016-05-30T22:55:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=23818"},"modified":"2016-05-30T16:30:21","modified_gmt":"2016-05-30T23:30:21","slug":"three-current-former-navy-officers-charged-secretly-working-fat-leonard-defense-contractor-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cjnotebook.com\/?p=23818","title":{"rendered":"Three Current and Former Navy Officers Charged Secretly Working With “Fat Leonard” a Defense Contractor (Video)"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN DIEGO, CALIF.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Three current and former U.S. Navy officers appeared in federal court last week to face charges that they secretly worked on behalf of foreign defense contractor Leonard Glenn Francis, dubbed “Fat Leonard.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Leonard Glenn Francis wined, dined and provided prostitutes and other gifts for Navy officials in exchange for refueling and resupplying the Navy ships, according to authorities.<\/span><\/p>\n

The indictment alleges that\u00a0Captain Michael Brooks<\/strong>, 57, of Fairfax Station, Virginia, was provided with prostitutes, luxury travel, a days-long party in a presidential suite and other gifts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also charged this week in the massive bribery and fraud scheme were Commander Bobby Pitts<\/strong>, 47, of Chesapeake, Virginia; and Lieutenant Commander Gentry Debord,<\/strong> 47, who is based in Singapore.<\/span><\/p>\n

The charging documents allege that in return for lavish entertainment and travel expenses, the services of prostitutes and other illicit gifts, the defendants brazenly used their public offices to foist benefit after benefit upon Francis and Glenn Defense Marine Asia, including passing on sensitive, internal U.S. Navy information to help Defense Marine Asia’s business interests.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brooks and Debord were each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit bribery; Pitts was charged with one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States and two counts of obstruction of official proceedings.<\/span><\/p>\n

All of the charges relate to the defendants\u2019 interactions with Francis, the former CEO of Glenn Defense Marine Asia, a defense contracting firm based in Singapore with a decades-long relationship with the U.S. Navy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brooks and Pitts made their initial appearances today in federal court in Virginia. Brooks and Pitts also made their initial appearances last week. \u00a0Debord appeared in federal court in San Diego, officials said.<\/span><\/p>\n

All defendants are out on bond.<\/span><\/p>\n