Navy commander sentenced to 78 months in bribery scandal

[rooster59]

Navy commander sentenced to 78 months in bribery scandal

JULIE WATSON, Associated Press


SAN DIEGO (AP) — A Navy commander who fled Cambodia's killing fields as a boy to grow up to become a decorated U.S. military officer was sentenced Friday to 78 months in prison for providing classified ship schedules in exchange for the services of prostitutes, theater tickets and other gifts from a Malaysian defense contractor.

A federal judge in San Diego gave Captain-select Michael Vannak Khem Misiewicz, 48, the longest sentence handed out so far in one of the worst bribery scandals to rock the Navy. The contractor overbilled the Navy by more than $34 million.

U.S. District Judge Janis L. Sammartino told the court this offense was "one of the most serious I've had on my time on the bench."

In his plea agreement, Misiewicz acknowledged providing classified information to Leonard Glenn Francis, whose Singapore-based Glenn Defense Marine Asia, or GDMA, supplied ships in the Pacific for more than 25 years. Francis, nicknamed "Fat Leonard" because of his wide girth, used the schedules and inside information to beat out competitors and overbill the Navy by submitting fake tariffs and port fees, according to prosecutors.

Misiewicz and Francis moved Navy vessels like chess pieces, diverting aircraft carriers, destroyers and other ships to Asian ports with lax oversight where Francis could inflate costs, the criminal complaint alleges.

Misiewicz is among 10 people charged in the case, including numerous Naval officials.

Navy Criminal Investigative Service agents initiated their probe in 2010. That same year, 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.

Misiewicz's family went to a "Lion King production" in Tokyo with a GDMA employee, and Misiewicz later was offered prostitution services and cash. Francis paid on at least eight occasions for Misiewicz, his mother, brother and children to travel in luxury to the Philippines, Japan, Kuala Lumpur, Cambodia, Singapore and the United States. The businessman also provided his wife with a designer handbag.

From January 2011 to September 2013, Misiewicz provided Francis ship movement schedules for the USS George Washington Carrier Strike Group and other ships, according to court documents. He admitted that he tried to cover up his dealings by using secret, temporary email accounts.

"Misiewicz was respected and revered within the Navy, particularly given his compelling personal story as a Cambodian refugee," U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy said in a statement. "Yet for two years, he lived a double life of deception and dishonesty. This is not just a fall from grace. This is a swan dive off the Empire State Building."

In December 2011, Misiewicz exchanged emails about the schedule of the USS Blue Ridge, investigators say. According to court documents, Francis wrote Misiewicz: "Bro, Slide a Bali visit in after Jakarta, and Dili Timor after Bali."

The complaint alleges Misiewicz followed through on the demands: 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.

After Francis offered Misiewicz five tickets to a Lady Gaga concert in Thailand in 2012, Francis wrote: "Don't chicken out bro we need u with us on the front lines," according to court documents.

-- (c) Associated Press 2016-04-30

[Khun Robert]

What,, can not believe this. Corruption in the United States of America.

5555555

[craigt3365]

What,, can not believe this. Corruption in the United States of America.

5555555

Who ever said there wasn't???

[Eric Loh]

But but military are incorruptible and we shouldn't be speaking about this. Opps wrong country.

[Rancid]

What,, can not believe this. Corruption in the United States of America.

5555555

Not surprised in the least at the corruption, but someone actually being prosecuted. Now if he'd been a banker...

[bassman]

Sounds like justice is being handed down and this case will be an example of a good deterrent. Now if the former secretary of state gets like justice for her similar dealings, an even better message will be sent.

[sanukjim]

But but military are incorruptible and we shouldn't be speaking about this. Opps wrong country.

At least in The US you can be the whistle blower and not have the fear of the government putting you in jail to cover up the Navy's favorite boy's escapades and theft.The Commander will also be court marshaled via The UCMJ in addition to this sentence.

[Neurath]

Wow! Deafening silence on this one. You know who you are.

[ThailandLOS]

But but military are incorruptible and we shouldn't be speaking about this. Opps wrong country.

At least in The US you can be the whistle blower and not have the fear of the government putting you in jail to cover up the Navy's favorite boy's escapades and theft.The Commander will also be court marshaled via The UCMJ in addition to this sentence.

Yeah right, tell that to Edward Snowden...

[Srikcir]

But but military are incorruptible and we shouldn't be speaking about this. Opps wrong country.

At least in The US you can be the whistle blower and not have the fear of the government putting you in jail to cover up the Navy's favorite boy's escapades and theft.The Commander will also be court marshaled via The UCMJ in addition to this sentence.

Yeah right, tell that to Edward Snowden...

Snowden chose to be a thief and not a whistleblower.

[Berkshire]

Wonder if he loses his retirement benefits. If not, the US gov is still on the hook for the rest of his life.

[Scott]

Off-topic post removed.

[Johpa]

What,, can not believe this. Corruption in the United States of America.

Corruption in the US military is largely legalized. There are currently about 2,500 retired O-7 (generals) or above working for major defense contractors pulling in comfortable six figure incomes helping to bring in the gravy, regardless of the true need for the procurement contract. The military careers of this new generation are aimed at the job at the end of the tunnel upon retirement. And they wonder why 25% of the Pentagon budget goes absent and unaccounted for, Sir! At least in Thailand the corruption is not obfuscated by the new mandarins, members of the bar who create the legal smoke and mirrors to hide avarice and greed of the venal class.

[hawker9000]

What,, can not believe this. Corruption in the United States of America.

Corruption in the US military is largely legalized. There are currently about 2,500 retired O-7 (generals) or above working for major defense contractors pulling in comfortable six figure incomes helping to bring in the gravy, regardless of the true need for the procurement contract. The military careers of this new generation are aimed at the job at the end of the tunnel upon retirement. And they wonder why 25% of the Pentagon budget goes absent and unaccounted for, Sir! At least in Thailand the corruption is not obfuscated by the new mandarins, members of the bar who create the legal smoke and mirrors to hide avarice and greed of the venal class.

Rubbish. Pure rubbish. All this hot air based on the greed and misconduct of a single foreign-born naval officer (not a flag officer, BTW). Does it make you feel more like a man to slander successful people? A) Retired flag officers definitely do NOT all go to work for defense contractors. Some do. Why shouldn't they? What do you want them to do, sign up for major league baseball teams? Sell encyclopedias door-to-door? Go back to trade school? Defense work is their chosen profession; why shouldn't they continue to work in it if they so choose? It's where their knowledge & experience lies, and defense contracting firms know & value that (And BTW, they're subject to certain, strict, federally-imposed restrictions with respect to their post-service employment to prevent corruption and conflict of interest.) If you want to claim they all then go on to support "unneeded" procurement contracts, then PROVE IT! (pssst - you KNOW you can't because you're just parroting schoolyard babble). Tin-hatted know-nothings aside, even marginally informed people understand that "unneeded" defense spending is infinitely more the result of Congressional pork-barrel than any retired officer corruption. C) Your statement that the entire generation cares about nothing but the "end of the tunnel upon retirement" is nothing but pathetic whining about people you know nothing about and probably can't hope to approach in terms of ability or achievement in life. More the pity; envy can be a terrible thing.

[Berkshire]

What,, can not believe this. Corruption in the United States of America.

Corruption in the US military is largely legalized. There are currently about 2,500 retired O-7 (generals) or above working for major defense contractors pulling in comfortable six figure incomes helping to bring in the gravy, regardless of the true need for the procurement contract. The military careers of this new generation are aimed at the job at the end of the tunnel upon retirement. And they wonder why 25% of the Pentagon budget goes absent and unaccounted for, Sir! At least in Thailand the corruption is not obfuscated by the new mandarins, members of the bar who create the legal smoke and mirrors to hide avarice and greed of the venal class.

Rubbish. Pure rubbish. All this hot air based on the greed and misconduct of a single foreign-born naval officer (not a flag officer, BTW).

"...a single foreign-born naval officer?" You obviously have not been following this Leonard Francis saga. Something like a dozen people have been implicated, including enlisted, civilians, mid-grade officers, and yes, flag officers. They are mostly US-born, including this guy:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905890-us-navy-captain-sentenced-to-46-months-for-accepting-bribes/

I certainly do not agree that "corruption in the US military is largely legalized." But corruption crosses all racial lines. Not sure why you would even bring up race in a case like this.

[NovaBlue05]

What,, can not believe this. Corruption in the United States of America.

5555555

Why should everyone else have all the fun...?

[ThaiWest]

Hell the S.O.B. ought to have gotten 360 months (30 yrs)! Not just 6 and a half years! That is part of what i WRONG in the States these days, folks who ought to be slammed hard get a slap on the hand and folks who do get slammed hard are the ones who ought to get a slap on the hand! It is just ass backwards…

[hawker9000]

What,, can not believe this. Corruption in the United States of America.

Corruption in the US military is largely legalized. There are currently about 2,500 retired O-7 (generals) or above working for major defense contractors pulling in comfortable six figure incomes helping to bring in the gravy, regardless of the true need for the procurement contract. The military careers of this new generation are aimed at the job at the end of the tunnel upon retirement. And they wonder why 25% of the Pentagon budget goes absent and unaccounted for, Sir! At least in Thailand the corruption is not obfuscated by the new mandarins, members of the bar who create the legal smoke and mirrors to hide avarice and greed of the venal class.

Rubbish. Pure rubbish. All this hot air based on the greed and misconduct of a single foreign-born naval officer (not a flag officer, BTW).

"...a single foreign-born naval officer?" You obviously have not been following this Leonard Francis saga. Something like a dozen people have been implicated, including enlisted, civilians, mid-grade officers, and yes, flag officers. They are mostly US-born, including this guy:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/905890-us-navy-captain-sentenced-to-46-months-for-accepting-bribes/

I certainly do not agree that "corruption in the US military is largely legalized." But corruption crosses all racial lines. Not sure why you would even bring up race in a case like this.

You're just bloviating. Race was not even mentioned or implied. Grow up.

ALSO never said or implied the singularity of this case. I was however refuting the simple-minded, vacuous, riddled-with-envy notion that ALL flag officers are corrupt, even from the moment they begin working their way through their careers. I DON'T mind, however, implying the obvious personal inadequacies of those who concoct such stories and stitch them together for the easily led and unthinking out of isolated incidents.