Fernando Xavier Monroy, Bribery Conspiracy and Lying, District of Columbia 2024

A shocking case of corruption has rocked the U.S. Navy with the conviction of Fernando Xavier Monroy, the former Director of Operations of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Command Office in Busan, South Korea.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Monroy, 64, of Brentwood, New York, engaged in a conspiracy to commit bribery with the owner of DK Marine, a South Korea-based company that provided services to the U.S. Navy, and a former civilian U.S. Navy cargo ship captain.

Evidence at trial proved that Monroy conspired to unlawfully provide services for the Navy ship, captained by one of Monroy’s co-conspirators, during a December 2013 port visit in Chinhae, South Korea.

Monroy’s crimes did not stop there. The evidence also revealed that he provided a co-conspirator with confidential and other proprietary, internal U.S. Navy information. In exchange for the steering of business and the provision of such information, the co-conspirator paid bribes to Monroy, including cash, personal travel expenses, meals, and alcoholic beverages, as well as the services of prostitutes.

Monroy’s corruption was not limited to his business dealings. The former Navy employee also repeatedly lied to special agents of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) and Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) during a voluntary interview in July 2019.

The case against Monroy was investigated by the DCIS and NCIS, with Trial Attorneys Sara Hallmark and Amanda Lingwood of the Justice Department’s Fraud Section prosecuting the case.

Monroy was convicted of conspiracy to commit bribery, bribery, and making false statements. He is scheduled to be sentenced on November 18 and faces a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

The conviction of Fernando Xavier Monroy serves as a stark reminder of the importance of accountability in the U.S. Navy and the severe consequences of corruption.

In a statement, Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. said, ‘The conviction of Fernando Xavier Monroy demonstrates the commitment of the U.S. government to rooting out corruption and holding individuals accountable for their actions.’

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