Fat Leonard to be sentenced in Navy bribery case after guilty plea

Leonard Glenn Francis, known as "Fat Leonard," is set to be sentenced next week after pleading guilty to bribery and fraud in a major U.S. Navy corruption scandal. He was arrested in 2013 for defrauding the military of over $35 million. Francis escaped custody in 2021 but was recaptured in Venezuela in December 2023. He cooperated with authorities, leading to the conviction of 33 others involved in the scandal, which included bribing Navy officers with lavish gifts. While he faces a maximum of 22 years in prison, prosecutors are recommending a lighter sentence due to his cooperation. Francis's sentencing is scheduled for Tuesday in San Diego.