'Fat Leonard' Arrested in US Navy Corruption Scandal, Leads to Prisoner Exchange with Venezuela
Leonard Glenn Francis, also known as "Fat Leonard," the mastermind behind the largest corruption scheme in U.S. Navy history, has been arrested and returned to the U.S. as part of a detainee exchange with Venezuela. Francis, a Malaysian defense contractor, orchestrated a bribery scandal involving dozens of U.S. Navy officers who were later prosecuted. He pleaded guilty in 2015 to offering lavish parties, cash bribes, and other perks to Navy officers in exchange for steering business to his company. The scheme involved overcharging the Navy by at least $35 million. After escaping from house arrest in 2022, Francis was arrested in Venezuela while attempting to board a plane bound for Russia.