NAVAL/ TAXPAYER INTEREST:

U.S. NAVY'S "FAT LEONARD" CONTRACTOR SCANDAL EXPANDS: 

NAMAZU SAYS "SAD DAY IN THE HISTORY OF TH EU.S. NAVY"

Monday November 6, 2017: The "Fat Leonard corruption scandal in the 7th Fleet appears to be expanding. The investigation into contractor led fraud has led so far to criminal charges against 28 people. The group includes so far two flag officers and nineteen other Navy officials. The majority of these original defendants have pled guilty but the opera ain't over till "the fat lady sings" and she is apparently tuning up for a little number involving possibly as many 210 more navy personnel.

 The Justice Department has handed over a number of these additional cases to the Navy for prosecution under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, with most of the accused being uniformed commissioned officers. Forty of these have been adjudicated with NJP (non judicial punishment, an administrative procedure with a lot less sting than a court marshal), Five officers currently face criminal charges. 

 The fraud scandal is named for contractor Leonard "Fat Leonard" Glenn Francis, a ship Chandlery provider with an influential reach deep inside the Navy procurement system. Some how Navy ships in the Pacific for years seemed more likely to call at ports where "Fat Leonard" had operations and hardly any that called at those ports received Chandlery services from anyone else. "Fat Leonard has already pled guilty to fraud and is cooperating with federal prosecutors. The investigative insight into his Navy connections and fellow players seems pretty complete. "Fat Leonard" took a fat wad of tax payer cash, about $35 million in over charges alone. Alleged bribes to cooperative Navy officers and officials included luxury goods , spa retreats, and hotel stays, and occasionally prostitutes. 

 It's going to be a while before the last of the "Fat Leonard" carnage on the integrity of our Navy is finally cleaned up, but thankfully the sweeping does appear to be in progress.