Business As Usual

A Malaysian businessman whose company has serviced U.S. warships for 25 years stands accused of buying military secrets by lining up prostitutes, Lady Gaga tickets and other bribes for a U.S. commander.

Prosecutors in a federal court case in San Diego, Calif. say Leonard Francis, nicknamed "Fat Leonard," worked his extensive connections to obtain military secrets in a scandal that signals serious national-security breaches and corruption in the Navy.

The accusations unfolding amidst an ongoing investigation have set off high-level meetings at the Pentagon with the threat that more people, including those of higher ranks, could be implicated as the inquiry continues.

[...]

So far, authorities have arrested [Navy Cmdr. Michael Vannak Khem] Misiewicz, Francis, his company's general manager of global government contracts Alex Wisidagama, and a senior Navy investigator, John Beliveau II. Beliveau is accused of keeping Francis abreast of the probe and advising him on how to respond in exchange for such things as luxury trips and prostitution services.

[...]

In October 2012, the USS George Washington was scheduled to visit Singapore and instead was redirected by the Navy to Port Klang, Malaysia, one of Francis' preferred ports where his company submitted fake contractor bids.

[...]

The company cheated the Navy out of $10 million in just one year in Thailand alone, U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said.

[...]

[In 2010] Misiewicz caught the world's attention when he made an emotional return as a U.S. Naval commander to his native Cambodia, where he had been rescued as a child from the violence of the Khmer Rouge and adopted by an American woman. His homecoming was widely covered by international media.

Meanwhile, Francis was recruiting him for his scheme, according to court documents.

[...]

Within months, the Navy commander was providing Francis ship-movement schedules for the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group and other ships, according to the criminal complaint.

[...]

The defendants face up to five years in prison if convicted of conspiracy to commit bribery.

  alJazeera

Wow. Five whole years. Maybe. Selling military secrets is not treasonous?

...but hey, do what you want...you will anyway.