From fugitive to shackled prisoner: ‘Fat Leonard’ again in U.S. courtroom and will face extra prices
MIAMI — A protection contractor on the heart of one of many largest bribery scandals in U.S. navy historical past is anticipated to face further prices following his return to the United States from Venezuela as a part of a broader prisoner swap between the 2 nations, a federal prosecutor mentioned Thursday.
Leonard Glenn Francis, who’s nicknamed “Fat Leonard,” confronted a federal decide for the primary time since snipping off his ankle monitor final 12 months and disappearing weeks earlier than a sentencing listening to on prices that he provided greater than $500,000 in money bribes to Navy officers, protection contractors and others.
He was later arrested in Venezuela and had been in custody there since, however was returned to the U.S. in a big swap that additionally noticed the discharge of 10 American detainees by Venezuela in alternate for the Biden administration liberating Alex Saab, a Colombian-born businessman and shut ally of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was going through cash laundering prices in Miami.
Francis, shackled and in a beige jumpsuit, stood by quietly as a federal Justice of the Peace decide in Miami ordered him to be transferred to the Southern District of California, the area the place his case was initially filed.
Prosecutors mentioned further prices can be offered towards Francis for failing to look at a listening to in his ongoing bribery case in San Diego.
“Not right now,” an in any other case expressionless however soft-spoken Francis mentioned in response to Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Becerra’s query about whether or not he might afford an lawyer.
Francis was arrested in a San Diego lodge almost a decade in the past as a part of a federal sting operation. Investigators say he bilked the U.S. navy out of greater than $35 million by shopping for off dozens of top-ranking Navy officers with booze, intercourse, lavish events and different items.
The scandal led to the conviction and sentencing of almost two dozen Navy officers, protection contractors and others on numerous fraud and corruption prices. Investigators say Francis, who owned and operated his household’s ship-servicing enterprise, abused his place as a key contact for U.S. Navy outlets at ports throughout Asia, wooing naval officers with Kobe beef, costly cigars, live performance tickets and wild intercourse events at luxurious resorts from Thailand to the Philippines.
He pleaded responsible in 2015 and was allowed to remain out of jail at a rental dwelling, on home arrest with a GPS ankle monitor and safety guards.
But weeks earlier than he confronted sentencing in September 2022, Francis made a daring escape as he lower off his ankle monitor and disappeared. Officials mentioned he fled to Mexico, made his technique to Cuba and finally acquired to Venezuela.
He was arrested a pair weeks later earlier than boarding a flight on the Simon Bolivar International Airport outdoors Caracas. Venezuelan officers mentioned he meant to achieve Russia.
He had been in custody in Venezuela ever since, and officers mentioned he sought asylum there.
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Tucker reported from Washington.
