lSHIPS AND PORTS: Military, Associated Ships, Locations7th Fleet - United States Navyhttps://archive.org/details/ReadySeapowerhttp://nation.time.com/2012/12/07/getting-it-wrong-at-7th-fleet/http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/navy-eased-after-hours-rules-4-days-before-okinawa-rape/https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-06-06/us-navy-bans-alcohol-in-japan-after-drunk-driving-rape-and-deathhttps://www.stripes.com/news/7th-fleet-hopes-frank-discussion-will-curb-sexual-assaults-1.41914#.WQ3dOIjyvZYhttp://www.independentsentinel.com/entire-7th-fleet-loses-their-liberty-and-the-21st-amendment/http://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=86508USS Blue Ridge. The command flagship for the Navy’s 7th Fleet, that is, it is the command ship which contains the headquarters of the U.S. Navy's Seventh Fleet, based in Yokosuka, Japan.USS Ronald Reagan. (CVN-76) Eighteen months later, the cycle repeated itself when another aircraft carrier [this USS Ronald Reagan, following the USS Decatur’s earlier visit] visited Hong Kong. (See Washington Post 05/27/2016 below)Rear Adm. Michael H. Miller, commander of the USS Ronald Reagan carrier strike group, knew Francis well. USS Essex. (ie, Debord)USS Decatur. In Hong Kong harbor, the guided-missile destroyer USS Decatur rests at anchor during a three-day port call in December 2004. When a Navy official in Singapore flagged questionable bills from Glenn Defense stemming from the port visit, one of Francis's alleged moles nipped the inquiry in the bud, according to prosecutors.“Do not request any invoices from this ship,” Simpkins ordered his colleague in an email, according to court records. “Do not violate this instruction. Contact the ship and rescind your request.”(see Washington Post 05/27/2016 below with photo, which was also found on Paul Davis on Crime 05/2016, also see below)Lake Erie. Cruiser -Feb. 1-4, 2010: The cruiser Lake Erie arrives in Sukomo, Japan, for a visit. The Navy says GDMA submitted inflated invoices totaling $234,902 for the visit.(see San Diego Tribune 11/14/2015)Abraham Lincoln. Aircraft carrier - Laem Chabang, ThailandEmory Land. Submarine (overbilling issue) Columbia - submarine (overbilling issue)Mustin -destroyer - Laem Chabang, Thailand, a Navy port where Navy operations are handled by GDMA (see San Diego Tribune 11/14/2015)John C. Stennis - MalaysiaShips Serviced In:Hong KongJapanSingaporePhilippinesThailand-Laem Chabang, ThailandSepangar, MalaysiaRelated commands or organizationsNaval Supply Systems Command (ie, Rear Admiral David Pimpo - former Commander)Naval Intelligence (ie, Vice Admiral Ted “Twig” Branch)Navy League. The firm became a leading sponsor of the Navy League of the United States, a civilian nonprofit group that advocates on behalf of the Navy.Related International Naval Royal Australian Navy (Radio Australia Net)Yokosuka Naval Base - Japanhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Fleet_Activities_Yokosuka---end Ships and Ports---Updates: 2022/01/23; 2022/01/14 editing/additions of this page and of the Fat Leo section overall; moved Comments to its own page; moved Articles-Alpha to its own page 2022/01/10-13; 2021/09/18 excess bold cleared; 2020/05/08 Fat Leonard Case divided into two pages because it had grown too long; important article added to Signficance/Start Here section: USNI/US Naval Institute-2019/01/24 2020/05/07 Fat Leonard Case transferred from River Gold to Police Factor; 11/18/2017 Leondro Aragoncillo; 05/14/2017;05/13/2017; 05/12/2017; 05/11/2017; 05/10/2017; 05/09/2017; 05/08/2017; 05/07/2017; 05/06/2017; 05/05/2017; 05/03/2017; 05/02/2017; 05/01/2017
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------MORE RECENT ARTICLESFat Leonard Escape-Sept 2022 onwardSan Diego Tribune2023/04/13 Fat Leonard Officer new trial motionhttps //www sandiegouniontribune com/news/courts/story/2023-04-13/fat-leonard-officer-new-trial-motionNavy Times2022/12/29 New in 2023: The fate of Fat Leonard By Geoff Ziezulewiczhttps://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2022/12/29/new-in-2023-the-fate-of-fat-leonard/USNI News2022/09/06 New Details Revealed in ‘Fat Leonard’ Escape, Detention as Manhunt Continues. By: Gidget FuentesSeptember 6, 2022 11:07 PMhttps://news.usni.org/2022/09/06/new-details-revealed-in-fat-leonard-escape-detention-as-manhunt-continuesCNN2022/09/22 Mastermind of Navy bribery scheme captured in Venezuela after escaping house arrest in San Diego. By Josh Campbell and Mary Kay Mallonee, CNNhttps //www cnn com/2022/09/22/politics/fat-leonard-venezuela-arrest-navy-bribery/index.htmlTrial Period, Arrests, Sentences - 2021-2022MAJOR ARRESTS, TRIALS, SENTENCES, RECENT ARTICLESArticles Recent 2021-2022 (not comprehensive - See Articles Alpha/By Date)Fat Leonard Case Still Haunts USADOJ-2021/08/31KPBS dot org2021/10/14 Navy Bribery Scandal still unfolding 8 years after arrest of Fat Leonardhttps://www.kpbs.org/news/local/2021/10/14/navy-bribery-scandal-still-unfolding-8-years-after-the-arrest-of-fat-leonardSan Diego Union Tribune2021/12/22 Fat Leonard Podcaster Recordingshttps://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2021-12-22/fat-leonard-podcaster-recordingsSan Diego Union Tribune2021/08/31 Former Navy Officer pleads guilty as Fat Leonard Briberty Trial Nearshttps://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2021-08-31/former-navy-officer-pleads-guilty-as-fat-leonard-bribery-trial-nearsUSNI2021/09/03Good Rundown:USNI-2017/03/16 [not from PF: some of its information on the indicted officers was used in the list of names]https://news.usni.org/2017/03/16/timeline-fat-leonard-caseTRIALS2022Most recent trial has been moved from Nov 2021 to Feb 20222021 Aug and Sept: Gorsuch and De Guzman first two to plead guiltyAugust 31 2021 from DOJ newsGorsuch is the first of the Seventh Fleet defendants to plead guilty. The remaining defendants, who are accused of trading military secrets and substantial influence for sex parties with prostitutes, extravagant dinners and luxury travel, are scheduled for trial on November 1, 2021 [trial moved to Feb 2022]. They include U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Bruce Loveless; Captains David Newland, James Dolan, Donald Hornbeck and David Lausman; Colonel Enrico DeGuzman; Lt. Commander Stephen Shedd; and Commander Mario Herrera.DeGuzman and Gorsuch are the first two of the so-called “GDMA Nine” – all former 7th Fleet officials indicted and charged together in the case – to plead guilty. Gorsuch admits guilty: Navy Chief Warrant Officer Robert GorsuchDe Guzman admits guilty: retired Marine Corp Colonel-appeared in federal court in San Diego, Calif-in August 2021, agreed to plead guilty to he accepted $67,000 in bribes and helped recruit others into a “cabal” of Navy officials who helped steer and inflate contracts to a Singapore-based defense firm (USNI-2021/09/03)As of Sept 2021 27/34 plead guilty: Federal prosecutors have filed criminal charges against 34 Navy officials, defense contractors and GDMA officers, and 27 so far have pleaded guilty2017March 2017, about 30 admirals under investigation, handful of names gone publicMarch Indictments of Navy Admiral plus 7 officersSee Justice dot gov-2017/03/14 Pitts, Bobby R Navy Commander sentenced 2017/112016 Sentencing of MisiewiczFormer Navy Cmdr. Michael Vannak Khiem MisiewiczMore than 6 years in federal prisonSIGNIFICANCEWhy the Fat Leonard case is ImportantStart Here“It’s really been pretty devastating to the upper ranks of the Navy... There were bad people here. You gotta catch them. You got to make sure they’re punished. But there were a lot of people that didn’t do anything that got caught up in this.…The sheer volume of Navy personnel exposed to Francis is indicative of how ubiquitous GDMA’s [Glenn Defense Marine Asia run by Fat Leonard] reach was in the Western Pacific from the late 1990s to his 2013 arrest…” from USNI-2019/01/24 (directly below)USNI US Naval Institute2019/01/24 Paying price hidden cost Fat Leonard investigation. By Sam LaGrone.https://news.usni.org/2019/01/24/paying-price-hidden-cost-fat-leonard-investigationNote: Founded in 1873, the U.S. Naval Institute is the independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write in order to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global securityExcerpt: The investigation into the web of corruption spun by contractor Leonard Francis has wreaked havoc on the Navy’s ability to fill senior leadership roles, unintentionally stalled hundreds of officers’ careers and thinned out the service’s flag ranks, USNI News has learned…The six-year-long Department of Justice-led probe into the “Fat Leonard” scandal has resulted in 33 federal indictments, 22 guilty pleas and Francis admitting to authorities that his company, Glenn Defense Marine Asia, had overbilled the Navy by $35 million to support port visits by U.S. warships…The sheer volume of Navy personnel exposed to Francis is indicative of how ubiquitous GDMA’s reach was in the Western Pacific from the late 1990s to his 2013 arrest. The Japan-based U.S. 7th Fleet relied heavily on GDMA to carve out places where U.S. warships could make port calls as Washington wrestled with Beijing for influence in the South China Sea, several officers who served in 7th Fleet have told USNI News.https://news.usni.org/2019/01/24/paying-price-hidden-cost-fat-leonard-investigationNavy Matters Blog SpotEven more disturbing than the violations and the number of people fired or charged with crimes is that none of these people were called out by their peers. Do you really think that all these hundreds of people were able to conduct their misdeeds in utter secrecy from those who worked closely with them on a day to day basis some of the misdeeds covering years? Of course not! Other people knew that wrongs were being committed and those who knew but said nothing are just as guilty of a failure of integrity (if not actual crimes!) as the principals. From Navy Matters Blog Spot (more in Articles below)What is the Fat Leonard Scandal?“At the heart of the scandal was Glenn Defense Marine Asia of Singapore [a subsidiary of Glenn Marine Group], a firm run by Leonard Glenn Francis, a Malaysian national known as Fat Leonard for his 350-pound weight. Francis provided thousands of dollars in cash, travel expenses, luxury items, and prostitutes to a large number of U.S. uniformed officers, who in turn gave him classified material about the movements of U.S. ships and submarines, confidential contracting information, and information about active law enforcement investigations into Glenn Defense Marine Asia.” (Wikipedia)SignificanceSecurityIn a word: American and western world security. The safety of military personnel on board every craft associated with the scandal. The safety of the intactness of the American presence in southeast Asia. The safety of the continental United States. The sheer vastness of the compromised situation - the zone of influence. Who was involved, how many, links to other significant issues (perhaps 9/11). Fat Leonard Case Worse Than China or Tailhook Scandal:USNI“Several senior officials over the last several months have told USNI News that the damage done to Navy leadership was worse than the aftermath of the 1991 Tailhook convention scandal.“I think it is worse. I think it’s very secretive,” a retired flag officer told USNI News. “At least with Tailhook, people knew that if they went to Tailhook they were being looked at. Right now, as far as anyone knows, if you ever went west of Hawaii, you’re being looked at. As far as anyone knows, but no one really knows.”Last year, a senior U.S. Pacific Command staffer told a room of Australians, when asked about the ongoing case, “China could never have dreamt up a way to do this much damage to the U.S. Navy’s Pacific leadership.”https://news.usni.org/2019/01/24/paying-price-hidden-cost-fat-leonard-investigationThese Leaders are Supposed to Lead Troops Through Combat2017/04 Navy Matters Blog SpotThe real point is that the Navy is clearly systemically integrity-challenged and yet, if we go to war tomorrow, these are the very people who will be leading us in combat. Do we really want these kinds of people to be our combat leaders? https://navy-matters.blogspot.com/2017/04/integrity.htmlWHISTLEBLOWERS) alleged or actualQuestioners of Over-billing or other issuesSchaus, David. A junior officer assigned to the Navy’s Ship Support Office in Hong Kong, became livid after receiving a huge invoice from Glenn Defense in 2004. Schaus said it charged the Navy for pumping 100,000 gallons of sewage from a destroyer that spent four days in port — an impossible amount, because the ship’s tanks held just 12,000 gallons and were serviced only once a day. Schaus told The Post that he summoned Francis for an explanation. “He became furious, accusing me of calling him a liar. And I told him, ‘I am calling you a liar.’ He said, ‘Lieutenants don’t tell me what to do. Do you know who I am?’ He was being profane and banging on the table.” Afterward, Schaus said he was told by other Navy officials to back off, something that he said invariably happened when he raised questions about Glenn Defense.The company “was rotten from the first day I worked with them in 2004, and everyone knew they were rotten,” Schaus said. “Everyone knew what was going on, and it was just accepted as the way it was. If you tried to rock the boat, you got squashed.” (See Washington Post, 05/27/2016 below).Linked In2016/09/01 The US Navy Supply Corps is morally bankrupt. By David Schaushttps://www.linkedin.com/pulse/us-navy-supply-corps-morally-bankrupt-david-schausRELATED BRIBERY SCANDALSWashington Post2021/10/03 Navy Bribery Scandalhttps://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/navy-bribery-scandal/2021/10/03/d5181302-245e-11ec-8d53-67cfb452aa60_story.htmlRELATED OR SIMILAR NAVY CORRUPTIONContracting Scheme1.6 million for homemade silencers that cost $8k to makeWashington Post 2014/01/15 Navy’s second ranking civilian resigns amid criminal investigation. By Craig Whitlock. Excerpt: In that case, three senior Navy intelligence officials who reported to Martinage are under investigation for an alleged contracting scheme that charged the military $1.6 million for homemade silencers that cost only $8,000 to manufacture, court records show. Involves Mark S. Landersman mechanic (brother of one of the Navy intelligence officials under scrutiny) and others.https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/navys-second-ranking-civilian-resigns-amid-criminal-investigation/2014/01/15/9305ece2-7df8-11e3-93c1-0e888170b723_story.html?utm_term=.a7aad05e9f64Navy civilian’s affair uncovered during contracting probeStripeshttps://www.stripes.com/top-navy-civilian-s-affair-uncovered-during-contracting-probe-1.262521#.WRXQpGjyvZYTailhookWikipedia: Tailhook Scandal: Macho culture which belittles womenhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tailhook_scandalNew York Times: Revisiting the Military’s Tailhook Scandal. Michael Winerip. (05/13/2013)http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/13/booming/revisiting-the-militarys-tailhook-scandal-video.htm
NAMES BRIEFmore detail at MilCrim-8b Fat LeonardThere is a good, apparently fairly comprehensive list as a table under “Individuals Involved: on Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fat_Leonard_scandalARUFFOAruffo, Edmond. Lt. CommanderAMUNDSONAmundson, TroyRetired Commander, NavyFormer officer on the USS HalseyWas held at FCI Sandstone in Minnesota. Released on February 25, 2021. Sentenced in October 2018.BELIVEAUBeliveau II, John. Former special agent of the Naval Criminal Investigative ServiceBOLIVARRear Admiral Bette Bolivar (retired)Former Navy Region Southwest CommanderSee Fat Leo-Comments-2022/01/27As lieutenant Commander allegedly accepted gifts of hotel, meals, golf outing in 1998 in Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, per a memo signed by Admiral Philip S. Davidson in July 2017. Not indicted.Bolivar was withdrawn it from two Seal War Crime cases, including the Eddie Gallagher one.BRANCHBranch, TedFormer director of Navy intelligence.BROOKSBrooks, Michael George. U.S. Naval Attaché Was released on May 28, 2019.DEBORDDebord, Gentry Lt. Commander. Supply officeRemanded to Federal Correctional Institution, Morgantown, West Virginia until he was released on February 5, 2019.[69] DE GUZMAN[trial moved to Feb 2022]See Fat Leo-Comments-2022/01/26 on De Guzman(one of GDMA Nine-all former 7th Fleet officials in federal indictment of March 2017)de Guzman, Enrico. (aka Rick) of Honolulu, HawaiiRetired Marine ColonelFleet Marine Officer for U.S. 7th Fleet in 2006DOLAN[trial moved to Feb 2022](one of GDMA Nine-all former 7th Fleet officials in federal indictment of March 2017)Doland, James.(aka “JD”) Retired Navy Captainof Gettysburg, PennsylvaniaAssistant chief of staff for logistics for 7th FleetDUSEKDusek, Daniel. former commanding officer of the USS Bonhomme SentencedWas held at a Residential Reentry Management Center in Seattle and released on October 17, 2018. (Wikipedia)GALLAGHEREdward “Eddie” GallagherSpecial Warfare Operator Chief GILBEAUGilbeau, RobertAdmiral GILLETTGillett, AlexLieutenant Commander AustraliaGORSUCH(admits guilty - one of GDMA Nine-all former 7th Fleet officials indicted in March 2017)Gorsuch, RobertNavy Chief Warrant Officer (Retired)7th Fleet flag administration officerCase Number: 17-CR-0623-JLS HAASSHaas, David. Former Navy Captain USNA graduate, USS Blue RidgeHERRERA[trial moved to Feb 2022]Herrera, Mario (Choke-Choke OIC)Former Navy CommanderArrested 2017/03/14HORNBECK [trial moved to Feb 2022](one of GDMA Nine-all former 7th Fleet officials in federal indictment of March 2017)Hornbeck, Donald (Bubbles) Retired Navy Captainof the United KingdomChief of staff for operations aboard the USS Kitty HawkJANSENJansen, Adrian Retired Navy Rear Admiral.KAUR-RACHAELWorked for Navy and leaked secrets.Charged in Singapore courts with bribery in 2016. Pleaded guilty in June 2017 in Singapore to corruption. On July 7, 2018, was sentenced to 33 months in prison. (Wikipedia)LAUSMAN[trial moved to Feb 2022](one of GDMA Nine-all former 7th Fleet officials in federal indictment of March 2017)Lausman, David. (“Too Tall”) Retired Navy CaptainThe Villages, FloridaExecutive officer aboard the USS Abraham LincolnLAYUGLayug, DanielPetty Officer 1st ClassFormer Navy enlisted sailorWas held at United States Penitentiary, Atwater, California, released on April 25, 2018.LOVELESS[trial moved to Feb 2022].(one of GDMA Nine-all former 7th Fleet officials in federal indictment of March 2017)Loveless, BruceFormer Navy Rear AdmiralAssistant chief of staff for intelligence for 7th FleetHis last Naval position was Corporate Director for Information WarfareMALAKIMalaki, Todd. Lt. CommanderSupply officer Blue Ridge and John S. McCain, and logistics officer Military Sealift Command MILLERMiller, Michael Harold "Mike"Navy Vice Admiral, Superintendent of Naval Academy MISIEWICZMisiewicz, Michael Vannak KhemNavy CommanderSentenced 6 yrs in prison in 2016/04NEWLAND[trial moved to Feb 2022](one of GDMA Nine-all former 7th Fleet officials in federal indictment of March 2017)Newland, David. ( “Newly”) Retired Navy Captainof San Antonio, TexasChief of staff of the USS Blue Ridge in 2006PIMPOPimpo, David R. Rear Admiral. Former Commander of Naval Supply Systems Command. (A supply officer).PITTSSentenced 2017/11Pitts, Bobby R. Navy Commander Supply OfficerSANCHEZJose Luis Sanchez US Navy Commander. LCDRDid a plea bargain.SHEDD[trial moved to Feb 2022](one of GDMA Nine-all former 7th Fleet officials in federal indictment of March 2017)Shedd, Stephen F. of Colorado Springs, ColoradoFormer Navy CommanderArrested in 2017/03/14A key witness in final trial-see San Diego Union Tribune orStripes-2022/05/06SIMPKINSPaul SimpkinsFormer senior contracting officer U.S. Defense DepartmentWas held at Federal Correctional Institution, Morgantown, West Virginia, and released on April 25, 2019. (Wikipedia-Fat Leonard)
Resources and Input Policing, Borders, Drugs, Cartels and System Corruption