Military contractor Leonard Glenn “Fat Leonard” Francis fled the United States while awaiting sentencing in San Diego for his role in a wide-ranging bribery case, citing the lead prosecutor’s refusal to cooperate with authorities. This was because he was afraid that he would not respect him. His mother had serious health problems, defense attorneys argued in court papers filed Wednesday.
Francis pleaded guilty in 2015 to bribing numerous Navy officials with luxury hotel stays, free meals, prostitutes and other entertainment to benefit his ship management company Glen Defense Marine Asia. Through the scheme, prosecutors said, GDMA overbilled the Navy by more than $35 million for its services.
Francis was initially taken into custody following his guilty plea, but was later placed under house arrest in San Diego to recuperate due to various health issues.
In the fall of 2022, as his bribery case neared sentencing, Francis cut off the GPS monitor he was required to wear and disappeared from San Diego, officials said. He was later arrested in Venezuela and brought back to the United States last December after a prisoner exchange between the two countries.
Francis is currently remanded in custody in San Diego and is expected to be sentenced early next month.
In sentencing papers, his lawyers said that although Mr. Francisco had previously provided extensive cooperation with authorities, disputes over the prosecution of senior Navy officials accused of accepting bribes from Mr. Francisco stated that they were concerned that the lead prosecutor was no longer a reliable defense attorney, or could become one. His cooperation justified a reduced sentence.
The prosecutor, Assistant U.S. Attorney Mark Pletcher, was found by a judge to have committed “clear misconduct” during the trial of five naval officers accused of accepting bribes from Francisco. Four of these officers were convicted, but those convictions were later dismissed following allegations of misconduct, including accusations that prosecutors withheld information from the officers’ attorneys. .
Francis’ lawyers wrote that Francis no longer believed that Pletcher would represent him and that “even if he had, he had no credibility with the court.” .
The lawyers also wrote that Francis was concerned about remaining in the United States because of his mother’s deteriorating health and “concluded that his chances of ever seeing his living mother again are rapidly disappearing.” Francis also had serious health problems, his lawyers said.
They allege that Francis “panicked” and “made a terrible error in judgment by leaving the United States in the hopes of finding a way to get to a place where he could be with his mother before she eventually dies.” Francis’ mother died in Malaysia earlier this year while Francis was in custody.
His lawyers, who are seeking a sentence of eight years and nine months in prison, said Francis had already agreed to plead guilty to federal charges of failing to appear in court.
“Leonard understands that this decision was inexcusable and wrong,” the sentencing memorandum states. “He deeply regrets that decision and calls it one of the worst decisions of his life.”
Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 11 years and eight months in prison for Francis, noting in sentencing documents that Francis has agreed to plead guilty to escape.
Prosecutors described the bribery scheme as “aggravated and egregious,” but also wrote that “the level and importance of his cooperation cannot be overstated.”
During the 2022 trial of five Navy officers, the officers’ lawyers accused Francisco of involving numerous Navy officials to obtain reduced sentences and other benefits from the government. He claimed that he had fabricated a lie. Francis was never called to testify at trial.
In addition to the five officers who went on trial, dozens of others have pleaded guilty to various charges.
